Australian break-out hit Look Both Ways has found a UStheatrical distribution partner in Kino International.

The Sarah Watt-directed title, which won the Discovery Award at theToronto Film Festival, has taken $1.6m (A$2.11m) at home in Australia in eightweeks of release and is being touted as a long-awaited international prospectfor the Australian film industry.

Sold by Fortissimo Films, Look Both Ways stars Justine Clarke,William McInnes, Anthony Hayes and Lisa Flanagan.Blending colourful handpainted celsby former animator Watts withlive action, it explores the relationships in the Port Adelaide neighbourhood.

Look Both Ways opened the Adelaide filmfestival, won the FIPRESCI prize at Brisbane, scoredthe $15,000 Discovery Award at Toronto and competedat San Sebastian in abusy autumn season for Watts, whose animated short Small Treasures won the BabyLion at Venice in 1995.

Kino and Fortissimo have worked together on the past on Wong Kar-wai hits Happy Together and Fallen Angels.The deal was negotiated between Fortissimo co-chairman WouterBarendrecht and the company's WinnieLau with Kino International president Donald Krim.

Said Krim: "Look Both Ways is a film thatis both imaginatively crafted and hugely appealing. We believe it has the potentialto find a large audience in North America. It establishes Sarah Watt as a director withgenuine talent and we look forward to working with her."