StudioCanal isclose to acquiring international rights to Cherish, the $4m comic stalker thriller that premiered in competition at the Sundance Film Festival this year and was promptly sold toFine Line Features for North America distribution.

Produced by Johnny Wow and Mark Burton and directed by Finn Taylor (Dream With TheFishes), the film starsRobin Tunney as a woman wrongly accused of running over a cop who is thenconfined to her apartment awaiting trial with an electronic bracelet attachedto her ankle. Tim Blake Nelson stars as the guard who visits her to check onthe security of her bracelet - and then becomes emotionally entangledwith her.

Brad Hunt, JasonPriestley, Liz Phair and Lindsay Crouse co-star, while the soundtrack consistsof classic 80s songs by the likes of Soft Cell, Human League and Hall &Oates.

The Cherish deal with StudioCanal, thought to be alittle over $1m, is being negotiated by Rena Ronson of WMA Independent, whoalso did the deal with Fine Line in Park City. Canal Plus US co-presidentStephane Sperry and Pierre Weisbein, head of international sales, arenegotiating on behalf of StudioCanal.