'Sicko' sponsors contest

Los Angeles -- U.S. moviegoers who see "Sicko" this weekend may enter a drawing to win a free trip to a country offering free universal health coverage.

As part of "Sicko Night in America," people will be invited to mail their movie ticket stub to enter a random drawing, filmmaker Michael Moore said Thursday in a news release.

"Sicko" is Moore's critique of healthcare in the United States, as compared with healthcare in other countries.

The grand prize in the contest is an expense-paid trip to Paris, London or Toronto -- cities in the three industrialized countries featured in "Sicko" that provide total health coverage for citizens. Part of the prize package will include an explanation of the country's universal health system's operation.

Moore told his fans the winner and a guest would visit countries where, "if you get sick, you get help for free, no matter who you are."

Announcement of the contest follows the news that "Sicko" became one of the top five grossing documentaries of all time after only three weeks in theaters.

"Sicko" is the third Moore film in the top five, joining "Bowling for Columbine" and "Fahrenheit 9/11."

Copyright 2007 by United Press International.