FISH' COOKS IN BERLIN
    By Adam Dawtrey
    BERLIN (Variety) - Hot from the Sundance Film Festival, Rose Troche's
``Go Fish" has emerged as one of the fastest- selling pictures in Berlin,
with theatrical distribution deals already agreed to in five international
territories.
    The Samuel Goldwyn Co., which picked up world rights to the low-budget
lesbian comedy last month, has sold it to Mainline Pictures in the U.K.,
Dendy Films in Australia, Nemo in Italy, Cine Co. in Spain and Schani in
Israel.
    The deals indicate the burgeoning interest in lesbian and gay films
worldwide, matching their growing success in the North American market.
    According to sources, the U.K. deal for ``Go Fish" was prompted by the
surprising strong video rental sales of a previous lesbian movie, ``Claire of
the Moon," which shifted 10,000 units last year in London's Virgin Megastore
alone.
    Significantly, one of the few other American low-budget movies at Berlin
that has secured international distribution is the gay-themed ``Grief," by
Richard Glatzer, which is being released in the U.S. by Strand Releasing.
    It is being handled worldwide by Jane Balfour Films and has been sold to
the ICA and Channel Four in the U.K.