The freshly-formed Benelux distribution alliance between Cineart and A-Film is understood to have secured Paul Thomas Anderson's Magnolia, its first title from New Line Cinema.

Cineart targeted the ensemble drama even before it scooped three Oscar nominations this month (including one for Tom Cruise as Best Supporting Actor) and then walked away with the Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival. Under a partnership forged last autumn, A-Film handles Cineart's Benelux titles in the Netherlands, while Cineart releases in Belgium. New Line traditionally goes out through RCV in the Benelux.

The allied distributors, which are expected to release Magnolia in March, have so far combined on titles such as Pedro Almodovar's All About My Mother and Cannes success Rosetta.

A-Film, launched last year under Pim Hermeling, formerly of RCV, has another product line in A-Lab, an ambitious co-operative of five production houses.