As the industry heads home from Park City, Lionsgate acquired North American rights to Cooties and teamed up with Roadside Attractions for US on The Skeleton Twins while SPWA took international. Fox Searchlight has acquired US and select territories to Calvary.

SpectreVision and Glacier Films’ Midnight entry Cooties marks the feature film directorial debut for directors Jonathan Milott and Cary Murnion from a screenplay by Saw and Insidious creator Leigh Whannell and Glee co-creator Ian Brennan.

Elijah Wood and Rainn Wilson star in the story of a substitute teacher who much confront a virus outbreak at a school. Lionsgate negotiated the deal with Paradigm on behalf of the filmmakers. Synchronicity Entertainment handles international rights.

  • Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions, and Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions together acquired all rights to US Dramatic selection The Skeleton Twins starring Kristin Wiig and Bill Hader. Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions jointly acquired US rights and plan a late summer release, while SPWA took all international rights. The parties negotiated the deal with ICM Partners, UTA Independent Film Group and Jonathan Gray.

  • UPDATE: Fox Searchlight struck a deal with UTA Independent Film Group and Protagonist Pictures for the US, France, Latin America, Italy, Spain, Benelux, Scandinavia and Japan on John Michael McDonagh’s Premieres selection Calvary. The acquisition marked its second of the festival after I Origins. Brendan Gleeson stars. Searchlight plans a 2014 release.

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