The new re-edited version of Wong Kar-wai'slong-gestating 2046 has been selected as the opening film of the 9thPusan International Film Festival.

2046 firstplayed at Cannes in May. A re-edited version was destined to screen atEdinburgh last month. But it was pulled at the last minute because Wong wasstill completing work on the film.

This will be the first festival screeningof the completed version of the film after its September 31 commercial releasein China.

Local feature The Scarlet Letter byDaniel Byun will close the festival, which runs from October 7-15 in the portcity of Busan, Korea.

The burgeoning status of PIFF, which isconsidered by many to be Asia's top festival, is reflected this year in anincreased number of world premieres, including eight in its New Currentscompetition section for first and second-time directors.

Other world and international premieres tounspool at the event include Japanese feature Blood And Bone starringTakeshi Kitano, Day And Night by Chinese director Wang Chao (TheOrphan Of Anyang), Lakeside Murder Case by Japanese director ShinjiAoyama (Eureka), Meenaxi: Tale Of Three Cities by octogenarianIndian director M.F. Husain, and Korean horror title R-Point.

The festival programme will feature arecord 266 films in total, plus about 30 "industry screenings" and anunspecified number of market screenings on DVD by Asian sales companies at thePusan Promotion Plan (see Screendaily, August 30).

This year will also see the launch of the"CJ Collection," under which representatives from the festival andlocal studio CJ Entertainment will select five Asian features from the mainprogramme for guaranteed theatrical and DVD distribution in Korea, includingthe winner of the New Currents section.Selections will be announced at the closing of the festival on October15.

PIFF New Currents Competition Section
The Cat Leaves Home(Japan), dir. Nami Iguchi *
The Cat Of Hollywood (HK), dir. Lam Chunyue**
Holiday Dreaming (Taiwan), dir. Hsu Fuchun*
The Killing (India), dir. Makrand Deshpande*
My Generation (S Korea), dir. Noh Dong-seok
The Rainmaker (Indonesia), dir. Ravi Bharwani*
Sanctuary (Malaysia), dir. Ho Yu Hang*
So Cute (S Korea), dir. Kim Soo-hyun
Soap Opera (China), dir. Wu Er Shan*
Survive Style 5+ (Japan), dir. Gen Sekiguchi
This Charming Girl (Korea), dir. Lee Yun-ki*
Waiting Alone (China), dir. Eng Dayyan*

* world premiere
** international premiere