New to Cannes this year is Independent Artists, an entertainment company looking to provide "a wide-reaching outlet for independent film-makers". It will be offering complete services including domestic and international distribution.

IA's first film is "unromantic" comedy Love Stinks. It was produced by Craig Baumgarten, written and directed by Jeff Franklin and stars French Stewart and Bridgette Wilson. IA plans to release the film on 1,500 US screens in the summer.

The company is the vision of award-winning commercial director Lee Lacy, who wants to establish the Los Angeles-based firm as one of the few "real" alternatives to the major studios. IA is designed to customise the marketing and distribution for each of its theatrical releases so as to target the core audience for each film.

To run the domestic distribution arm, Lacy tabbed Mark Borde and Gene Irwin, who distributed more than 30 films under their Legacy Releasing banner. Heading up IA's international distribution arm are Kevin Mills and Ellen Endo, former partners in Duet Entertainment and colleagues at Republic Pictures. They bring a library of more than 1,100 titles to the company.

Other key execs are David Sheldon as chief financial officer and Jim Hanson, formerly with InterStar Releasing, who is vice president, creative affairs. Lacy has committed an initial $30 million to the company with additional outside financing available soon. Leonard Morpurgo