Take Care Of My Cat, screening this week in the Hong Kong International Film Festival, is to make the leap into Europe after it emerged that Swedish-based Willmar Andersson Film has picked up all Nordic rights.

Andersson, a well-known intermediary between the Nordic countries and Far Eastern film-makers, has secured a Swedish theatrical and video release through Folketsbio for the Korean picture. The film, which is handled internationally by Korea's Cinema Service, has already accepted over 20 festival slots.

Andersson also bought Slovenian rights on the coming-of-age picture, directed by first time woman director Jeong Jae-eun. Other deals in Scandinavia are pending and he is considering further festival offers.

The 12-day festival, presented by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council for the first time, runs from March 27th to April 7th.

The two opening films this year are Fruit Chan's continuation of his tales of Hong Kong's low life, Hollywood Hong Kong, and German director Tom Tykwer's realisation of Krzysztof Kieslowski's last project, Heaven. Taiwanese director Tsai Ming-liang's Golden Horse nominee What Time Is It There' closes the festival.