After heated pre-market bidding on Official Competition title Secret Sunshine, Korean sales agent CJ Entertainment has sealed a local distribution deal to Diaphana for France. Ama Film has also come on for Greece.

From the director of Venice-awarded Oasis and former Director's Fortnight title Peppermint Candy, Lee Chang-dong's Secret Sunshine stars Jeon Do-yeon as a woman who moves to her recently deceased - and apparently unfaithful - husband's hometown with her son. The local mechanic, played by The Host star Song Kang-ho, falls in love with her.

Diaphana's head of acquisitions Karin Beyens told ScreenDaily.com: 'We all - CEO Michel Saint-Jean, head of distribution Didier Lacourt, and myself - loved Secret Sunshine, primarily because of the human spirit that comes out of the story. It's a very moving one with exceptionally strong characters, and you come away from the film different.'

Diaphana is now working closely with CJ on presenting the film to local press and exhibitors at Cannes.

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