NICOLE KIDMAN - LEASH PUT ON KIDMAN'S DOGVILLE

NICOLE KIDMAN's movie DOGVILLE has been picked up by LIONS GATE FILMS, ending months of speculation over which company would take the plunge.

Lions Gate has paid in the region of $1.5 million (GBP1 million) to acquire North American distribution rights to the LARS VON TRIER movie.

The deal was closed late Thursday evening (22MAY03) at the CANNES FILM FESTIVAL, with Lions Gate reportedly beating out bids from PARAMOUNT CLASSICS, UNITED ARTISTS, MIRAMAX and ARTISAN.

Distributors were said to be generally nervous about taking on the challenge of marketing the three-hour movie, which has been panned and praised by critics alike.

Dogville has become the first entry at the Cannes Film Festival to be picked up for American distribution.