Kino Lorber has picked up US rights to Jia Zhangke’s hard-hitting Palme d’Or contender A Touch of Sin, capturing the impact of the economic boom on China.

Paris-based MK2, which is handling sales, also sealed deals with Belgium (Cineart) and Greece (Ama) today and is on the verge of closing Italy, Brazil and Scandinavia.

Further deals have been struck in Italy (Officine Ubu), Turkey (Calinos) and Korea (Sycomad).

As previously announced, A Touch of Sin has sold to France (Ad Vitam), UK (Arrow), Spain (Golem), Portugal (Midas) and Canada (Films We Like).

Tokyo-based Bitters End, which co-produced, will release the film in Japan. The film’s producers intend to release the film in China in the autumn

Kino Lorber chief Richard Lorber said: “We’ve been followers and admirers of Jia’s work for many years but it was like the lightening we had in Cannes all week to be struck by his bold vision and this stunning new film. Kino Lorber is exhilarated to introduce Jia’s extraordinary talent with a touch of sin to wider audiences in the US.”

Kino Lorber also took rights to Directors’ Fortnight title A Strange Course of Events by Raphaël Nadjari as did Arrow for the UK.

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