The actor/comic has signed with distributor Phase 4, funding an independent movie roadshow to tour the US and Canada

Kevin Smith has signed a deal with Canadian distributor Phase 4 that will see 12 films exhibited under the Kevin Smith and SModcast Presents … banner in the US and Canada over the next three years.

The SModcast stable will consist of finished works by independent film-makers, handpicked by Smith, who will tour with the films, introduce them to audiences and host Q&A sessions after the show.

"I honestly cannot wait to start finding flicks to take out on the road," said Smith on his blog. "Live action, animation, big budget, micro-budget, comedy, drama, horror … Come join the circus!"

A similar deal was rumoured a year ago when Smith used the Sundance film festival world premiere of his most recent film, Red State, to attack the traditional studio model and announce his retirement from directing. Red State was distributed theatrically using Smith's roadshow strategy, but was taken over by Lionsgate for the home entertainment and VoD release.

The Phase 4 partnership has already drawn fire from the outspoken director's critics. Deadline.com's Mike Fleming – who called Smith "a tortured, angry guy" after his performance at last year's Sundance – said the deal showed Smith "coming in from the cold". The director took to his blog to retaliate. "One year later, that hack is still crying about how I made his movie distributor pals leave a football game-watching party to see a flick at a film festival!", he wrote. "Talk about sucking on studio cock!"

Phase 4, who worked with Smith on promoting the Red State tour, will be hoping to take advantage of the director's faithful fanbase, which includes almost two million Twitter followers and the listenership of Smith's regular podcast, hosted at smodcast.com.

Smith's final film, the ice hockey comedy Hit Somebody, is expected in cinemas in 2013. Alan Rickman, Nicholas Braun and Red State actors John Goodman and Melissa Leo are set to star.

• To submit a film for consideration, email: SMacquisitions@phase4films.com