Strand Releasing has acquired US rights to Doris Dorrie's Cherry Blossoms - Hanami which had its world premiere in competition at the Berlin Film Festival this year.

Bavaria Film International, which is handling sales on the film, also sold it to Sunrise Film Distribution in Denmark and Edko Films in Hong Kong.

The film, which won three German Film Awards including best actor for Elmar Wepper, has been a considerable local hit with over 600,000 admissions in Germany. It was produced by Munich-based Olga Film.

In the film, Wepper plays a man nearing retirement who suddenly loses his wife and then flies to Japan to visit the sites she never had a chance to see.

The US deal marks the fifth collaboration between Strand and Bavaria after two Fatih Akin film (Head-On and Crossing The Bridge), The Child I Never Was and A Year Without Love.

'We're thrilled to continue our relationship with Bavaria Film International and am looking forward to working with Ms. Dorrie,' said Jon Gerrans, co-president of Strand Releasing who closed the deal with Bavaria.

Strand plans to release Cherry Blossoms later in 2008.

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