Toronto TOLDJA!: CBS Films Closes U.S. Deal On Salmon Fishing In The Yemen

UPDATE: The deal has closed, and CBS Films has acquired U.S. rights to Salmon Fishing in the Yemen. Sources close to the buyer say it’s the $4 million that the sellers asked for, while sources close to the seller say it’s $5 million. Summit got the deal to that level. What’s clear is this is a healthy deal. EARLIER EXCLUSIVE, 12:26 PM: CBS Films is in advanced negotiations to reel in U.S. distribution rights to Salmon Fishing in the Yemen, the Lasse Hallstrom-directed film that premiered last night at the Princess of Wales Theater.Fox Searchlight, Summit, Focus and Miramax have been circling, but CBS appears to be tying down the property for a low-seven-figure deal. Adapted by Simon Beaufoy from the Paul Torday novel, the film stars Ewan McGregor, Emily Blunt, Kristin Scott Thomas and AmrWaked, the latter playing a wealthy sheik who pays a fisheries scientist to stock a stream with trout. The sheik believes that fishing brings him closer toGod, an experience he wants to share with his countrymen, despite the dangerous fact that some local leaders oppose it; there is a burgeoning love story between his British legal rep (Blunt) and the stuffy fisheries scientist (McGregor) who is locked in a dull marriage. CBS Films executives Wolfgang Hammer and Scott Shooman were all over this one, but the auction carried into today because some of the major buyers saw other acquisition titles last night and caught the film this morning. UTA is selling the film here, and Lionsgate International is selling it overseas.The film drew a rousing response after the screening, but of course for distributors, the key is weighing whether the film can catch on with audiences. CBS Films, which is looking for titles that can play in wide release, clearly thinks so. It is the second prestige title acquired by CBS Films, which will also distribute Gambit, the Joel and Ethan Coen-scripted comedy that was directed by Michael Hoffman and stars Colin Firth and Cameron Diaz. Paul Webster produced Salmon Fishing, and Guy Avshalom, Stephen Garrett and Zygi Kamasa are exec producers. Though Shame sold Friday, that deal resulted from momentum created from Telluride and Venice showings because the picture doesn’t premiere until this evening. The Salmon Fishing deal is the first major one that was the result of a premiere screening. Last year, the Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions Group deal for Insidious really unlocked the dealmaking. There are rumors of bids in on Friends With Kids, and genre titles like You’re Next. So it appears things might loosen up a bit.

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