Sony Pictures Classics picks up 'Get Low' for distribution, as well as 'Lebanon'

Here's the story from Variety:

In a low-seven-figure deal, Sony Pictures Classics has acquired North American rights to another first feature out of Toronto: Aaron Schneider's debut "Get Low."

Southern period drama, a Toronto Gala premiere, stars Robert Duvall as a grumpy recluse who stages his own funeral. Sissy Spacek and Bill Murray co-star.

"Get Low" was produced by Dean Zanuck under his Zanuck Independent shingle.

Pic was one of the most buzzed-about projects at the fest, where the Weinstein Co.'s purchase of "A Single Man" was the only other acquisition priced above $1 million.

SPC also snapped up U.S. rights to Venice Golden Lion winner "Lebanon," the narrative feature debut of Israeli writer-director Samuel Maoz.

Maoz's pic is an unrelenting look at war based on his own experiences as a young soldier manning a tank during Israel's invasion of Lebanon in 1982.

SPC, which also released "Waltz With Bashir," will be hoping to position "Lebanon" for a run at the foreign-language Oscar, although it remains to be seen whether Maoz's pic will be Israel's entry.

The winner of the Israeli Film Academy's annual Ophir Awards is automatically selected as the country's Oscar pic, and "Lebanon" is up against gritty crime drama "Ajami."

The winner will be announced at a ceremony Saturday in Tel Aviv.

-Looks like Duvall and Murray are officially in the race...thoughts?