International audiences to experience South Africa's Spud

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Universal UK, the British and Irish arm of Hollywood studio NBC Universal, has the theatrical, home entertainment and television rights, with the cinema release set for early 2012. The film will be distributed in the Middle East by Front Row, in Australia by Pinnacle and by Another World in Scandinavia. Airline rights have been acquired by Terry Steiner.

In addition to its sales success, the film will be part of the prestigious Cinekid Festival in Holland in mid-October. The film will also play at Germany's Schlingel International Film Festival for children and youths and has already screened at the Giffoni Film Festival in Italy in July.

Spud producer Ross Garland is delighted that Universal UK has picked up the film. "It's a bit of a coup for a major distributor like this to pick up a South African film and we're delighted that they're so passionate about it. 2012 is shaping up to be a big Spud year - in addition to our first foray into the international market, the fourth book in the series is being published and we're working on plans to shoot the sequel film."

Universal UK acquisition head Richard Thompson believes that UK audiences will enjoy Spud's coming-of-age story, "The book franchise has an incredible following in South Africa. The film topped the South African box office - beating Harry Potter - and we know UK audiences will fall in love with these characters and this story."

Spud is directed by Donovan Marsh and stars BAFTA-winner, Emmy winner and Academy Award nominee John Cleese and newcomer Troye Sivan (X-Men Origins: Wolverine) and was produced by Ross Garland of Rogue Star Films and Brad Logan of BLM Productions.