Sometimes even a Palme d'Or from the Cannes Film Festival is NOT enough to guarantee US theatrical distribution. The Thai film UNCLE BOONMEE has been distributor-less for 2 months since winning the Festival's top prize. But word now comes out of Los Angeles that veteran distribution company Strand Releasing has acquired all US rights to Apichatpong Weerasethakul’s UNCLE BOONMEE WHO CAN RECALL HIS PAST LIVES.

Strand has released three of Weerasethakul’s previous films including BLISSFULLY YOURS, TROPICAL MALADY and SYNDROMES OF A CENTURY. The current film is a humanistic story that follows a man spending his final days surrounding by loved ones in the countryside. The film was a major sensation at a mainly slack Cannes this year.

The film, which will certainly up the recognition value of its director to the major leagues of the international film world, has been sold to more than 40 territories so far by German sales agent The Match Factory. Strand plans for a spring 2011 release for the United States, with festival dates in Toronto, New York, Chicago and Los Angeles expected this fall.

Sandy Mandelberger, Film New York Editor