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CANNES -- Dutch investment group MediciArts has acquired German music production and sales company EuroArts Medien for an undisclosed sum, the companies said Monday. The deal gives MediciArts full control of the Berlin-based company, a leading producer and licenser of classical music programming. EuroArts has a massive library of music performances from such conductors as Simon Rattle, Daniel Barenboim and Claudio Abbado. In addition to classical music productions, EuroArts has produced a number of documentaries and feature films, including Julian Benedikt's Jazz Seen and Blue Note and Tomasz Wiszniewski's Where Eskimos Live.

Bob Yari and Mark Gordon's Stratus Film Co. has struck a two-year, first-look deal with producer Paula Paizes. Stratus and Paizes have already earmarked their first collaboration to fall under the deal: My Absolutely Unforgivable Dark and Evil Ways, penned by Morgan Upton and to be directed by Stephan Elliott. Paizes, Yari and Gordon will produce Dark and Evil Ways, which centers on man trying to make money for his family of seven kids only to get in too deep with a baby-obsessed criminal who forces him to make a choice: die or give up one of his offspring. "I am very excited to be given this opportunity to produce movies with Stratus," Paizes said. "They are a great company, and I am happy to be making such a wicked and fun first project with them." Added Gordon: "Paula is an extremely committed and effective producer who has great taste in material. We look forward to making this movie with her and many more in the future." Paizes produced Where Eskimos Live, a 2002 Sundance Film Festival selection that took a top award at the 2002 Avignon Film Festival. She serves as the executive producer of KTLA's Clubbin'.