Fireworks Pictures has picked up North American rights on New Zealand Directors' Fortnight title Rain.

The distributor, a subsidiary of CanWest Global Communications, picked up the film from the New Zealand Film Commission. Set over one summer, the coming-of-age story is viewed as an auspicious debut for writer-director Christine Jeffs. The picture is about a girl discovering her sexuality just as her mother feels increasingly frustrated by her marriage.

The deal was announced by Kathleen Drumm, head of sales and marketing for the New Zealand Film Commission, and Bob Aaronson, vice president of acquisitions and co-productions for Fireworks.