Fresh from the UK theatrical success of Donnie Darko, indie distributor Metrodome has picked up The Hard Word from Beyond Films and Academy Award-nominated documentary Spellbound.

Metrodome is planning a late-summer release for Hard Word, a story of three fraternal bank robbers which stars Guy Pearce and Rachel Griffiths. The film will be released in the US by Lions Gate in June.

Jeff Blitz's Spellbound, which was nominated for best documentary feature at this year's Oscars, follows eight children on their quest to win the National Spelling Bee in Washington DC.

The titles mark the first acquisitions by the company since former BSkyB executive Andrew Keyte joined as managing director.

Metrodome is now controlled by German TV outfit TV Loonland, which recently increased its stake in the AIM-listed company from 54% to 83%. The distributor grossed more than £1.5m with Donnie Darko on limited release in the UK.