Veteran film buyer Rudy Tjio has joined the development and acquisition division of Christoph Ott's distribution outfit ottfilm.

Tjio, who had previously worked as a film buyer for over ten years at Prokino and then six years at TiMe Medien (until May 2002), told Screendaily.com that he will be responsible for international acquisitions and attending festivals, while Berlin-based acquisition executive Claudia Poepsel will concentrate in future on German domestic titles.

After attending the Locarno festival this week, Tjio will be travelling to the Venice and Toronto festivals to scout for interesting titles.

Tjio added that he will continue to work out of Munich, although he expects to travel to ottfilm's head office in Berlin at least once a month.