Sony Pictures Classics will distribute Jiri Menzel's I Served The King Of England in North America. The deal was signed at AFM, according to the film's Czech producer AQS.

The film is the Czech Republic's submission for foreign-language Oscar consideration.

'We are very proud to have as our American distributors Sony Pictures, one of the largest and most prestigious companies in the American film industry,' said producer Andrea Metcalfe.

Bavaria Films handles international sales for the film, which has already sold in 47 countries.

Menzel, who had previously said he would not be promoting the film in the run-up to awards season, appeared in New York for the US premiere of the film Nov 14. 'I'm lazy but I work with a good team,' Menzel told the audience at the New Czech Films festival.

I Served The King Of England won the Fipresci award at Berlin, where it saw its international premiere. In the Czech Republic, the film has earned more than $4.2m at the box office on more than 900,000 admissions. It has sold more than 22,000 DVDs since it went on sale at the end of September.

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