THINKFilm has acquired all North American rights to Lone Scherfig's darkly humorous drama Wilbur Wants To Kill Himself.

The film, which is her English-language debut, is Scherfig's next film after Italian For Beginners, which was a critical and commercial hit around the world including the US.

Trust Film Sales handled both films and finalised this sale at the AFM. "Wilbur's perfect balance of comedy, drama, and romance confirms Lone Scherfig's status as a major international filmmaker," said THINKFilm Head of US Distribution Mark Urman. "We truly look forward to working with her, Zentropa, and Trust on what is sure to be a commercial and critical success."

Wilbur was released in Denmark in November and most recently screened in Berlin, where it made buyers and critics wonder why it wasn't in competition. It stars Jamie Sives, Adrian Rawlins and Shirley Henderson, and is set in Scotland.

Director Scherfig co-wrote the script with the screenwriter Anders Thomas Jensen, who previously co-wrote Mifune and Open Hearts among many others. Sisse Graum Olsen produced for Zentropa with Peter Aalbaek Jensen as executive producer and Scotland's Gillian Barrie of Sigma Film as co-producer.

THINKFilm recently sold a 50% stake to Canada's Robert Lantos, who assumed the position of chairman. Its latest release, Gus Van Sant's Gerry, is nominated for two IFP/Independent Spirit Awards and its next release, Spellbound, also a Spirit nominee, was just nominated for an Academy Award as Best Documentary Feature. THINKFilm is expected to release Wilbur in the autumn.