New Wave Films, the new UK distributor set up by Artificial Eye veterans Pam Engel and Robert Beeson in February 2008, has acquired three new films for its initial slate.

The new acquisitions are Unrelated, Tricks and Quiet Chaos.

Joanna Hogg's Unrelated from the UK won the Fipresci prize at the 2007 Times BFI London Film Festival. Kathryn Worth, Tom Hiddleston, Mary Roscoe and David Rintoul star in the story of a middle-aged English woman going on holiday to Tuscany who encounters a messy family situation. Barbara Stone produced for Raw Siena.

Unrelated will be New Wave's first release in September.

Andrzej Jakimowski's Tricks (Sztuczki) from Poland - sold by M-Appeal - won the Europa Cinemas Award in Venice 2007 and the grand jury prize at Miami in 2008. New Wave plans the UK theatrical launch in early 2009. Damian Ul and Ewalina Walendziak appear in the tale of a six-year-old boy who tries to get closer to his father, who left his mother for another woman.

Antonello Grimaldi's Quiet Chaos (Caos Calmo) from Italy - sold by Fandango Portobello - has been a local box-office hit after debuting in competition at the 2008 Berlinale. Nanni Moretti stars as a man who suddenly becomes a widower and starts to look at the world in a new way. Fandango's Domenico Procacci produced. Quiet Chaos will also be released in early 2009.

The company's first two acquisitions, as previously reported, were the new films from Nuri Bilge Ceylan and the Dardenne brothers. Those pre-buys bode well for New Wave, as both the Dardennes' The Silence Of Lorna and Ceylan's Three Monkeys (previous title Daydreams) have been confirmed today in Competition at Cannes 2008. Celluloid is handling sales for Lorna, with Pyramide selling Three Monkeys.

New Wave plans an October release for The Silence Of Lorna and an November release for Three Monkeys.

Engel said of the company launching with Unrelated: 'Joanna's a real talent and having a British film as part of New Wave Film's first releases says to the UK industry that we are open not just for films from abroad - but we are looking for quality films here in the UK as well and of course having Lorna and Three Monkeys in Cannes competition is exactly what we had hoped when we bought the films.'

Beeson added: 'The response from international sellers to New Wave has been extremely positive' said Beeson, 'but we want to keep New Wave very selective. Fast broadband, VOD and shorter theatrical windows means the theatrical distribution model is going through a radical change and methods of people watching films is continuing to change too and we have to adapt as well. But I believe the main factor that sets us apart, is that through our extensive experience in distribution and owning cinemas we know our art-house audience very well - and what they generally respond too. Plus with our relationships with key sellers, directors and producers, they can trust us to get the best UK release for their types of films.'

Further, New Wave has struck a deal for Verve Pictures to handle its theatrical bookings and DVD releases.

'It makes sense for Pam and I to concentrate on the London dating and overall press and marketing strategy as this is critical for all art house films,' Beeson noted. 'Plus I will continue to handle all ancillary sales on the films we acquire.'

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