US indie producer/distributor and rights-broker Artisan Entertain-ment has signed a muscular, long-term output deal with German film distribution company Highlight Communications, cash-flush after its recent German New Market stock exchange listing. The deal gives Highlight German- speaking rights to Artisan pics and commits the company to release up to 34 features over the next three years.

But this is not the only overseas deal sought by Artisan. At Cannes, the company also confirmed that it is having ongoing discussions for Spain but, as of yesterday afternoon, no deal had been closed. One company in talks, said sources, is Spain's top indie distribber, Antonio Llorens' Lauren Films.

The German deal and Spanish discussions would appear to be part of a wider drive to tie up foreign distributors in long-term, multi-pic deals. Company prexy Amir Malin was not available for comment.

International output deals would be another step in Artisan Ent's rapid growth since, in its LIVE Ent incarnation, it was the subject of a $150 million buyout in 1997, orchestrated by Boston-based investment company Bain Capital.

Under Malin, who came on board in July 1997, Artisan has positioned itself as the producer of cutting-edge, youth-oriented pictures up to $30 million and more upscale fare such as Roman Polanski's The Ninth Gate.

The agreement with Highlight brings with it pics such as Steven Soderbergh's The Limey, starring Terence Stamp and Peter Fonda. Pi director Darren Aronofsky's Requiem For A Dream as well as David Koepp's Stir Of Echoes, starring Kevin Bacon, are also included.

"Starting with a strong pic like The Limey is an indication of the way things are to go," says Kristina Dubin, head of International acquisitions and the company's LA representative.

Highlight, which has an existing output deal in place with the US-based Seagal-Nasso, intends to invest enough money to double its release slate to around 10 or so pics a year. Up and coming pictures include Star Force Soldier and Disturbing Behaviour. Liza Foreman & John Hopewell