Anchor Bay has paid in the region of $3.5m for US and Australian rights to Spread, David Mackenzie's LA hustler tale starring Ashton Kutcher.

The distributor, which is ramping up its theatrical operations, closed the deal with CAA and Endeavor Independent late on Friday afternoon [January 23] following several days of bidding. TVA acquired Canadian rights.

Meanwhile Sony Pictures Classics confirmed it will distribute Moon, Duncan Jones' sci-fi Sundance entry starring Sam Rockwell as a lone astronaut who begins to unravel.

The film get was due to get its world premiere at the festival on Friday night and came to Sony Pictures Classics through Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisition Group, which pre-bought rights early last year. Sony Pictures Classics will release in June.

As the final weekend approached deals were understood to be imminent on The Greatest, Push: Based On The Novel By Sapphire, Cold Souls and World's Greatest Dad.

Buyers continued to circle Amreeka and sales agents have set up extra screenings in Los Angeles for The Cove and Toe To Toe.