THINKFilm has acquired North American rights to THE ESCAPIST, a stylish thriller starring Brian Cox, Joseph Fiennes, Dominic Cooper and Damian Lewis. The film, which represents the feature directorial debut of Rupert Wyatt and is produced by Adrian Sturges and Alan Moloney, had its world premiere at this year's Sundance Film Festival. The deal was announced by the company's Theatrical Division Head, Mark Urman, who plans to release the film in Fall 2008.

In THE ESCAPIST, Brian Cox stars as a man who is serving a life sentence in prison. When a letter informs him that his daughter is critically ill, he decides he must see her before it is too late and concocts an escape plan. He assembles a motley crew of unlikely companions each of whom possesses a special and necessary skill that will help with his far-fetched scheme. Juxtaposing the intricate preparations for the break-out with the actual escape itself, the film becomes an intense, existential drama about every man's need to free himself from confinement and to redeem himself for past failings.

About the acquisition, Urman said, "THE ESCAPIST is a dazzling directorial debut and an exceptional visual and visceral experience. I am thrilled to be working with such an exciting creative team, on both sides of the camera, and if audiences are half as impressed by their work as we are, we'll have a big hit on our hands."

Director Rupert Wyatt said, "I'm thrilled that my debut film has been picked for theatrical release in the U.S. by such a highly respected company. It was always my intention when making THE ESCAPIST that it should appeal both critically and commercially to a U.S. audience. THINKFilm has now provided us with a fantastic platform to make sure that happens. I very much look forward to teaming up with them over the coming months."

THE ESCAPIST is a Parallel Films and Picture Farm production, directed by Rupert Wyatt, co-written by Wyatt and Daniel Hardy, produced by Adrian Sturges and Alan Moloney, co-produced by Susan Mullen, and executive produced by Brian Cox and Tristan Whalley, with original music by Benjamin Wallfisch, cinematography by Philipp Blaubach and editing by Joe Walker. The film stars Brian Cox, Joseph Fiennes, Liam Cunningham, Seu Jorge, Dominic Cooper, Steven Mackintosh, and Damian Lewis.

The deal was negotiated by THINKFilm Theatrical Division Head Mark Urman, and THINKFilm's Vice President of Acquisitions Ben Stambler, with Tristan Whalley and Nicki Parfitt of Goalpost Film, and Cassian Elwes of William Morris Independent on behalf of the filmmakers.

About THINKFilm

THINKFilm is a privately held production and distribution company founded in September 2001 that is now a division of David Bergstein's Capitol Films; Bergstein also serves as the company's Chairman. With seven Academy Award nominations in six years, "Taxi to the Dark Side" recently won Best Documentary Feature. Ryan Gosling's 2006 Oscar nomination for Best Actor in "Half Nelson" and a 2005 Best Documentary Feature Oscar win for "Born Into Brothels" highlight an Oscar list that also includes nominations for "Spellbound," "The Story of the Weeping Camel," "Murderball," and "War/Dance." THINKFilm's current and forthcoming releases include: Helen Hunt's "Then She Found Me" with Hunt, Bette Midler, Colin Firth, and Matthew Broderick on April 25th; "The Tracey Fragments" starring recent Oscar-nominee Ellen Page on May 9th, "Noise" starring Tim Robbins on May 9th; Stuart Gordon's "Stuck" starring Mena Suvari and Stephen Rea on May 30th; and Werner Herzog's documentary "Encounters at the End of the World" on June 11th. For more information, please visit www.thinkfilmcompany.com