Jaman, the company behind the eponymous US website featuring independent and world cinema, is expanding into the UK film distribution film market with the launch of its first localized site in the UK.

The website has a collection of 1,000 titles, which include international dramas, documentaries, shorts, Japanese animated titles and Bollywood films, can be downloaded via a number of platforms including mobile devices.

The Silicon-Valley based company, which was started in 2007, has teamed up with NESTA (the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts) to support the Take 12 (Digital Innovation in Film) programme. The programme is designed to help small independent British film companiesbuild onbusiness growth opportunities through digital distribution.

It has also signed distribution deals with Axiom Films and ContentFilm and will work with Pathe Films and BFI on promotional branding projects.

Speaking to ScreenDaily, David Fischer, managing director of UK and international operations, cited the explosion of user-generated content and consumer demand as incentives for expanding into the UK market.

'Jaman's international ambition is to build upon our leadership position serving a discerning, independently-minded global audience.' Fischer said.

Fischer previously held the role of executive vp and managing director of MySpace and Fox Interactive Media.