Film Movement nabs pair of pix

'Monster,' 'Peck' to be distribbed in North America

By IAN MOHR

Indie distrib Film Movement has struck a deal to pick up North American rights to a duo of pics: Norwegian helmer Arild Ostin Ommundsen's "Monster Thursday" and Indian director Mani Ratnam's "A Peck on the Cheek."

A Norwegian surfer movie, "Monster" follows two friends, one a career man and surfer, who recently married, and the other a slacker who decides to master surfing to clean up his act and win the affections of his mate's wife.

Pic was a nominee for the world cinema section's top prize at Sundance last year.

Pic was produced by Ingrid Festoy Ottesen. Ostin Ommundsen penned the screenplay with Gro Elin Hjelle. NonStop Sales repped rights.

"Cheek" , tells the story of a 9-year-old Sri Lankan girl adopted by an Indian couple, who searches for her biological mother.

Pic was produced by Ratnam and G. Srinivasan.

Panorama Entertainment Corp. sold off the pic, which stars Madhavan, Simran, Prakashraj, Nandita Das, Chakravarthy and Keerthana.