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BERLIN -- U.S. indie distributor Magnolia Pictures is rolling with "Donkey Punch," snapping up the movie to release it through its Magnet Releasing label.

Repped internationally here by London-based Lumina Films, "Punch" revolves around seven partygoers on a yacht who end up fighting for survival after a freak accident.

Optimum Releasing has U.K. rights to the movie, which is making its market premiere in Berlin at the European Film Market.

The film is directed by Olly Blackburn and co-written by Blackburn and David Bloom. Angus Lamont, Robin Gutch and Mark Herbert produced for Warp X, an initiative of Film4, U.K. Film Council, EM Media, Screen Yorkshire and Optimum. Peter Carlton, Lizzie Francke, Hugo Heppell and Will Clarke are the executive producers.

The deal was negotiated by Magnolia senior vp Tom Quinn and director of acquisitions Dori Begley and Samantha Horley and Miles Ketley of law firm Wiggin for Lumina.

Magnolia partying with 'Punch'

By Stuart Kemp

Feb 9, 2008,