Essential Entertainment has inked a deal to charm international buyers with Barney’s Version, the Richard J. Lewis-directed film to bow in Venice before screening at the upcoming Toronto International Film Festival on September 12 at Roy Thomson Hall.

The Los Angeles-based film financing/sales shingle will shop the foreign distribution rights to the Canadian-Italian co-production as it heads onto the festival circuit.

Based on the Mordecai Richler novel of the same name, Barney’s Version stars Paul Giamatti, Dustin Hoffman, Rosamund Pike, Minnie Driver, and Scott Speedman.

Entertainment One has already picked up the Canadian rights to the Robert Lantos-produced film.

Essential Entertainment’s sister company, Essential Pictures, recently tied up with Canadian producer Brightlight Pictures to make TV shows for the world market under a proposed EBTV banner.

Barney’s Version will also unspool as part of the Pearls sidebar at next month’s San Sebastian International Film Festival.