
Essential Entertainment has signed on to rep overseas distribution rights on Barney’s Version, the Richard J. Lewis-directed film that has its world premiere at Venice September 10 and then moved to the Toronto fest two days later. Paul Giamatti plays the title role and the ensemble cast includes Dustin Hoffman, Minni Driver, Scott Speedman and Bruce Greenwood. A U.S. distribution deal is in the works, and E1 just bought Canadian rights.


The film should be an easy sell in Canada because it is based on the last book by an often on domestic television, celebrated Canadian character, Mordecai (The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz) Richler.The late sometime columnist also has a film history going back to a considerable amount of uncredited writing on the 1959 film “Room At The Top” and a credited contribution to its 1960s sequel “Life At The Top.”Richler’s name could sometimes be found in the pages of The New Yorker or the New York Times trying to explain Quebec or the French-speaking part of Canada, to Americans.