Ground-ZeroEntertainment, the North American distributor of martial arts videos andhip-hop-influenced titles, has closed three deals at this year's AmericanFilm Market, the company's founder and CEO Anthony Perez announced.

Thecompany has signed a domestic distribution deal with James Bond III'surban production company Solid Rock for six titles. A limited theatricalrelease is planned for three: the urban murder mystery Awake in July; the children's picture Rahim& Rashid in October;and the thriller To Kill the Killer toward the end of the year.

Ground-Zero willalso release four titles domestically for Spain-based Arum International,kicking off with the live action-animation King of the Farm and followed by two thrillers and adrama.

In the third deal, Ground-Zero's UK division has sealed atwo-picture pact with Bruder Releasing Inc (BRI) to distribute DeviousBeings, a thrillerstarring Patrick Van Horn (Swingers), and Rhapsody, an action picture starring Glenn Plummer and Ice-T. NorthAmerican rights for both BRI titles have been bought by Viacom/Blockbuster/DEJ.

Ground-ZeroEntertainment was founded in late 1999. "Our goal is simple: we want to"out-niche" the competition," Perez, a 15-year home videoveteran, said in a statement.