BBC Worldwide, the commercial arm of the UK's public broadcasting empire and BBC Films, the Beeb's feature arm, have sealed an eight-picture output deal for the UK with distributor Redbus Film Distribution (RFD).

RFD, owned by Redbus Film Group, will also handle video-on-demand rights for the eight titles, all of which will be BBC Films' projects which BBC Worldwide has invested in.

Worldwide recently pledged funding worth around $65m over five years for films produced through the BBC's feature arm, BBC Films. Films that have already benefited from Worldwide backing include Julien Temple's Pandaemonium, and the Roddy Doyle-scripted When Brendan Met Trudy, to be directed by Keiron J Walsh.

Both Pandaemonium and When Brendan Met Trudy will be included in the deal.

A BBC Worldwide spokesperson said: 'It will be the next eight titles Worldwide invests in that will go through the deal. The titles have not been decided on yet.'

RFD, which has been busily acquiring US fare - including three pictures now from Buena Vista Film Sales, among them Sidewalks Of New York - aims to establish itself as a leading UK distributor committed to both overseas and local fare.

The distributor recently hired most of the UK theatrical distribution team that made up PolyGram/Universal Pictures International, including distribution head Chris Bailey.

BBC director of international television Mike Phillips said: 'Working with Redbus, and the team they have hired from PolyGram, means our films now have guaranteed distribution by one of the finest releasing teams in the UK.'

Commenting on the deal, RFD managing director Zygi Kamasa said: 'BBC Films is one of the UK's foremost film producers, and the fact that we will be handling eight of their forthcoming projects confirms Redbus' position as a key supporter of British feature film production.'