With the European Film Market underway here in Berlin, concurrent with the annual Berlinale, Picture This! Entertainment has announced its acquisition of all North American rigths to the German film "Napola", from Bavaria Film International.

The film, directed by Dennis Gansel, was the audience award winner at the 2004 Hamptons International Film Festival last fall. It also received the EuropaCinema Platinum Award at the 2004 Viareggio EuropaCinema Festival and will be released in theaters this coming autumn. "Napola" is currently in release in Germany by Constantin Film, where it has grossed $2.2 million.

"Napola," written by Gansel and co-written by Maggie Peren, is the story of a young a boxer (played by Max Riemelt) who is discovered by an instructor at a Nazi school (known as a 'Napola' or National Political School). At the school, the boxer develops a friendship with the son of a Nazi Party leader, a young man who is critical of the Nazi teachings of the school.

Riemelt won the best actor award at the 2004 Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, for his performance and will receive a prize as one of the Europen 'Shooting Stars', this weekened at the Berlin Film Festival.

Douglas Witkins negotiated the deal for Picture This!, while Michael Weber and Thorsten Schaumann handled the deal for Bavaria.