Moore to follow up 'Fahrenheit 9/11'

LOS ANGELES, May 13 (UPI) -- Paramount Vantage and Overture Films have announced they will co-finance and distribute U.S. filmmaker Michael Moore's next documentary.

The film is to be a follow-up to his 2004 "Fahrenheit 9/11" and is scheduled for release in 2009.

Paramount Vantage will handle international distribution in all media and Overture will handle domestic distribution in all media. Paramount Vantage said it will be launching the film into the international marketplace this week in Cannes.

The announcement was made Tuesday by Moore; Nick Meyer, president of Paramount Vantage; John Lesher, president of Paramount Film Group, and CEO Chris McGurk and COO Danny Rosett of Overture Films.

"It's great to be working again with Chris McGurk and John Lesher," Moore said in a statement. "Both of them have been exceptional to work with in the past and I look forward to their assistance in this new project."

"We are thrilled to be working with Michael again," McGurk and Rosett said in a joint statement. "His fearless filmmaking has become an important catalyst for challenging mainstream thoughts and values regarding the important critical issues facing this country and the world. Everyone on the Overture team is delighted to be involved with Michael's exciting new film."