Jan 20, 2009–Fox Searchlight acquired worldwide rights to rookie writer-director Max Mayer's “Adam” after the Sundance debut.  In this romance, Hugh Dancy (“Savage Grace”) plays a man with Asperger Syndrome who falls in love with his neighbor, Rose Byrne (“Damages”).  They plan is to open the film later this year.

Among the early deals at this year's Sundance Film Fest, which celebrates its 25th anniversary, HBO acquired the U.S. TV rights to Anders Ostergaard's documentary “Burma VJ” from Submarine Entertainment. The enterprising Sony Pictures Classics sealed deals for “Rudo y Cursi” and James Toback's documenatry “Tyson,” which world-premiered at the 2008 Cannes Film Fest.

December 17, 2008 — The South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Conference and Festival announced today that the DreamWorks Pictures film “I Love You, Man” will be the 2009 Opening Night film. The De Line Pictures comedy, co-written and directed by John Hamburg (“Along Came Polly,” co-writer of “Meet The Parents,” “Meet The Fockers,” and “Zoolander”) stars Paul Rudd, Jason Segel and Rashida Jones. The film centers on a man who, upon getting engaged, realizes he has no close male friends and must find someone to be the Best Man at his wedding. The South by Southwest Film Conference and Festival runs March 13 – 21, 2009 in Austin, Texas.

The International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) announces that three internationally renowned directors long associated with the festival have accepted special commissions to make films that will receive their world premiere during IFFR 2009: Nanouk Leopold (The Netherlands), Guy Maddin (Canada) and Carlos Reygadas (Mexico). All are made especially for projection on XXL outdoor screens high on the fronts of three office buildings in Rotterdam’s city centre.