In a deal that began at Cannes but was finalized at TIFF, The Weinstein Company has purchased the U.S. distribution rights to Walk All Over Me.

‘Obviously, we are entirely thrilled at this outcome,’ says Evan Tylor, president and founder of sales agent IndustryWorks Distribution, a subsidiary of Vancouver-based Evolution Pictures. ‘We met with the Weinsteins, and they were forceful about it. They really wanted this film.’ Tylor was mum about the financial details of the deal, though he did say that ‘everyone is extremely happy.’

The Canadian thriller, budgeted at approximately $4 million, was directed and cowritten by Calgary-based Robert Cuffley (Turning Paige) and shot in Winnipeg. Cuffley cowrote with Jason Long.

A CHAOS film company production, Walk All Over Me is a crime thriller about a small-town girl (Leelee Sobieski) who becomes a sexual dominatrix in order to make ends meet. The film also stars Tricia Helfer (Battlestar Galactica) as her roommate and Lothaire Bluteau (Black Robe, Race to Mars) as a vicious mob leader.

Walk All Over Me is slated for a Dec. 7 release in Canada by Mongrel Media. Tylor says the deal with Weinstein stipulates that the film must be released in the U.S. no later than the end of 2008.

In a separate, post-TIFF deal, Maple Pictures announced on Thursday it has taken the Canadian rights to the U.S. comedy Bill, starring Aaron Eckhart and Jessica Alba. The movie by first-time directors Melisa Wallack and Bernie Goldmann comes from GreeneStreet Films (A Prairie Home Companion, Swimfan) and is due in theaters by spring.

‘We have been interested in Bill since script stage and think the film really delivers,’ said Maple co-president Laurie May in a statement. The filmmakers were represented by Cinetic Media.