Screen Media Films has picked up U.S. distribution rights to director Eric Mendelsohn’s 3 Backyards, starring Embeth Davidtz, Edie Falco and Elias Koteas. 3 Backyards dives into the lives of three residents of a small town over the course of one day. Screen Media is planning on a release date some time in the first half of 2011. Meanwhile, Phase 4 Films has acquired US rights to feature documentary Vidal Sassoon The Movie, from director Craig Teper. Slated for early 2011, the film world premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival. Finally, Fox Searchlight will start shooting The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel on October 10th in India. John Madden will direct the adaptation of the novel by Deborah Moggach. The film will star Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Tom Wilkinson, Bill Nighy and Dev Patel and will be produced by Graham Broadbent and Peter Czernin of Blueprint Pictures.  Fox Searchlight Pictures will co-finance the film with Participant Media and Imagenation Abu Dhabi.