In the first major development since the BHVR Communications takeover of Malofilm Communications, the company's distribution division has signed an exclusive three-year output agreement with October Films, New York. The deal with Malofilm Distribution covers all media rights in Canada.

Malofilm will pick up 12 October theatrical releases for '96, including two films in competition at the festival, Mike Leigh's Secrets and Lies and Lars von Trier's Breaking the Waves.

Malofilm also announced it has acquired world rights (excluding domestic) to the bittersweet coming-of-age feature Le Sous-sol, directed by Pierre Gang and produced by Max Films, as well as the political thriller The Interview, a Brazil/u.s. coventure directed by Monique Gardenberg.