Modern Entertainment hasacquired worldwide distribution rights to three new films in time for theCannes Film Festival - concert film Piaf - Her Story HerSongs, US independent favourite CharlotteSometimes and Harry Shearer's TeddyBears' Picnic.

'We decided about ayear ago to expand our core business in distribution to include new worldpremiere movies,' said president and CEO of Modern Michael Weiser in astatement.

Piaf - HerStory Her Songs starscontemporary French singer Raquel Bitton in concert performing 20 popularstandards by the celebrated French singer, who died in 1963, aged 48.

The concert documentary,which was scripted by Bitton, is interspersed with footage of Piaf and hercontemporaries.

Both Charlotte Sometimes and Teddy Bears' Picnic are produced by John Manulis' VisionboxPictures. Charlotte Sometimes,which received two Independent Spirit Award nominations this year including onefor Best Feature/The John Cassavetes Award, centres on a love triangle betweena Japanese-American car mechanic and two Asian women.

It was written and directedby Eric Byler and executive produced by Manulis and Michael Kastenbaum.

The satirical TeddyBears' Picnic, which is scheduledfor a domestic release in May, follows the antics of a group of fictitiouswhite male executives at an annual retreat.

The ensemble cast includesMichael McKean, Fred Willard, Morgan Fairchild and Shearer, among others. Thefilm was executive produced by Manulis and Kastenbaum.