Weinsteins Land Rights to Distribute 'Fahrenheit 9/11'

LOS ANGELES, May 28 -- Miramax film studio founders Harvey and Bob Weinstein have personally acquired rights to Michael Moore's documentary "Fahrenheit 9/11" from the Walt Disney Co., after Disney, which owns Miramax, declined to distribute it, Disney said Friday.

Miramax had funded the film but Disney said it was too politically charged for the company.

After more than a week of talks, the Weinsteins have bought rights to the film, estimated to have cost about $6 million, and will arrange for its theatrical and home video distribution in the United States.

The film won the Golden Palm, the highest award of the Cannes Film Festival this month, but plans for a U.S. theatrical release had been held up while Disney and the Weinsteins negotiated.

Moore, who criticizes President Bush and the war on Iraq in the film, said May 5 that Disney had refused to distribute the picture.

Disney said that it had made its decision a year earlier and accused Moore of conducting a publicity stunt.