First the US Studios dominted early business confirming moves into local film production in Germany (Columbia TriStar), Spain (Universal) and Hong Kong (Columbia TriStar).
Now buzz has turned to the acquisition skirmish between top-notch US distribution houses for Foreign-Language Oscar nominees.

Rumour had it yesterday that Sony Pictures Classics (SPC) had acquired US domestic distribution rights to Russia's Academy nominee, Vor (The Thief). Contacted by Moving Pictures, Raphael Berdugo, president of Roissy Films' said he had received and accepted an offer for US rights to The Thief, but the company was not SPC. He declined to disclose the real buyer.

The Thief has benefitted immensely from its nominations for Best Foreign Film at both the Academy Awards and Golden Globes, following on a Best European Film nomination for the European Awards. At Berlin, Roissy sold Pavel Chukhrai's drama about a six-year-old child, her mother and her thief lover to Dendy Films for Australia and New Zealand and Lider for Argentina. Roissy has received two offers for Brazil and will close with a major distributor in Taiwan.

Buzz on The Thief follows claims made Tuesday that Miramax Films was in talks with Bavaria Film Int'l to acquire US and select overseas rights to the German Foreign-Language Oscar nomination, Beyond Silence. Rick Sands, chairman, Worldwide Distribution, Miramax Films, declined to comment on this.

One speculation is that with Sony and Disney weighing into the Foreign-Language battle with acquisitions of Character and Four Days in September respectively, other US studios might be tempted to try their luck with a Foreign-Language nomination, taking the US for a low-ish six-figure fee plus a top-up if it wins. Sales of The Thief and Beyond Silence would leave Spain's Secretos del corazon as the only Foreign-Language candidate still to sell to the US. John Hopewell