Independent UK distributor Optimum Releasing has acquired UK rights to anticipated documentaries from Michael Moore and Jonathan Demme, as well as Bob Smeaton's Festival Express and French horror Switchblade Romance. The company has also picked up UK rights to CJ Entertainment's detective thriller Memories Of Murder

Currently in production, Fahrenheit 911 sees Michael Moore examining the US as a target for terrorism, and allegations of a relationship between the Bush and Bin Laden families.

Jonathan Demme's The Agronomist is a tribute to the life of Haitian radio journalist and human rights activist Jean Dominique.

Sales on both titles are handled by Wild Bunch.

Bob Smeaton's Festival Express is sold by Hanway and documents a train that carried some of the greatest rock bands of all time across Canada in 1970, and includes footage of Janis Joplin, The Grateful Dead, The Band and others as they travelled between shows.

French horror Switchblade Romance is the second feature from writer director Alexandre Aja and follows a night of terror for two girls in an isolated farmhouse. Optimum acquired the film from Europa Corp, from which the company picked up UK rights on the French Oscar entry Bon Voyage earlier this year.

Other titles on Optimum's 2004 slate include Gus Van Sant's Palme d'Or winner Elephant, Julie Bertucelli's Since Otar Left and Faouzi Bensaidi's A Thousand Months.