In its second big buy in Cannes, Sony Pictures Classics scored the hit of the Competition, "Cache" (Hidden), which is tagged to win the Palme d'Or, over some dozen other bidders, including Fox Searchlight.

Michael Haneke's psychological suspense film stars Daniel Auteuil and Juliette Binoche as a couple harassed by mysterious videotapes. Les Films du Losange's Margaret Menegoz sold the film to SPC because of their long relationship, she said. "We're very happy to work again with Michael Barker," Menegoz said. "We worked together for the first time 20 years ago on Agnieska Holland's 'Europa, Europa,' which was a huge success in the U.S."

They also worked together on a series of Eric Rohmer films, said Les Films du Losange's Daniela Elstner, who negotiated the six-figure deal for North America, English-speaking Canada and Mexico with SPC's Michael Barker, Tom Bernard and Dylan Leiner.

"Relationships count a lot," she said. "It's important to us to know the partners we're working with."

Elstner also hopes that SPC's clout will break out Haneke as an auteur in the U.S. While "Time of the Wolves" and "The Piano Teacher" did some healthy stateside boxoffice, "'Hidden' might be for him a real step for something bigger," Elstner said.

SPC seemed to be the only studio mini-major opening their wallets for Cannes fare, having spent some seven figures on "Joyeux Noel".

"We're the only one buying," Barker said. "Margaret Menegoz is an auteur as producer. We feel comfortable with each other. We look at these films not just for their prestigious profile, but to figure out ways to broaden the audience and make them profitable. Over the years we've proven we're successful at it."

SPC is aiming for fall film festival launches in Toronto, Telluride and New York, Barker said.