Picturehouse has acquired North American rights to Guillermo del Toro's fairy tale film "Pan's Labyrinth." A fall release is anticipated.

Set against the fascist regime in rural Spain, the film stars Ivana Baquero ("Fragile") as a lonely girl who creates a world filled with fantastical creatures. The cast also includes Mirabel Verdu ("Y Tu Mama Tambien"), Sergi Lopez ("Dirty Pretty Things") and Doug Jones ("Hellboy").

"This is a stunning film both in its visuals and narrative," Picturehouse president Bob Berney said. "Guillermo is a master filmmaker and the ultimate film fan as well."

Produced, written and directed by the Mexico-born del Toro, whose most recent film was the horror-fantasy pic "Hellboy," "Pan's Labyrinth" was produced by Telecinco through its production arm Estudios Picasso, headed by Alvaro Augustin. Estudios Picasso produced the project in partnership with Tequila Gang, headed by Bertha Navarro and del Toro, and Esperanto Filmoj, headed by Alfonso Cuaron and Frida Torresblanco.

The films producers are Cuaron, del Toro, Torresblanco and Navarro. The exec producer is Augustin.

Besides "Hellboy," del Toro's credits include "Mimic," "Cronos" and "The Devil's Backbone."

The deal was brokered on behalf of Picturehouse by Berney, Picturehouse senior vp acquisitions Sara Rose and Carolyn Blackwood, senior vp business and legal affairs at New Line Cinema, and negotiated on behalf of the film by Carole Baraton at Wild Bunch.