Montreal: Supported in a major way by the public at the Cannes Film Festival, Denys Arcand’s Les Invasions Barbares (The Barbarian Invasions) returned home triumphant with two major awards, the prize for best screenplay (Arcand) as well as best actress for Marie-Josee Croze. The remarkable reception at Cannes, ‘a thrill’ to quote Cinemaginaire producer Denise Robert, turned to near rapture when Miramax Films announced it had acquired U.S. rights.

The acquisition by Miramax bodes extremely well for the film’s international career as well as its prospects at next year’s Oscars.

As of the May 30-June 1 weekend, Invasions had taken in close to $3.2 million at the Quebec box office since its launch on 136 screens May 9, according to distrib Alliance Atlantis Vivafilm.

‘Denys Arcand is a great filmmaker whose work stood out high above the rest of the films at this year’s Cannes Film Festival,’ said Miramax co-chairman Harvey Weinstein in a prepared statement. ‘The film is full of humanity and shows a fascinating perspective on friendship and family. We are pleased to be in business with Denys, Denise and Daniel [Louis of Cinemaginaire, Montreal].’

Invasions is produced by Robert and Louis, and coproduced by Pyramide Productions of France. Flach Pyramide International is the international sales agent.

At the market, FPI also reported sales to Comstock in Japan, Artificial Eye in the U.K., B.I.M. in Italy, Filmcopie in Switzerland, Films de l’Elysee in Belgium, Shapira in Israel and Filmgroup in Russia.

While Invasions, Danish director Lars von Tier’s Dogville, starring Nicole Kidman, and Clint Eastwood’s Mystic River appeared to be among the festival frontrunners, the Palme D’Or and best director prizes went to U.S. director Gus van Sant for Elephant, an HBO film.

Lions Gate Films has acquired North American rights (Film Tonic has Quebec-only rights) to Dogville.

Other big winners at Cannes were the Turkish film Uzak and the Iranian film At Five in the Afternoon (A cinq heures de l’apres-midi), distributed in Canada by Seville Pictures.

-www.festival-cannes.fr