Fortissimo Films has finalised the global distribution patchwork on WongKar-wai's epic romance 2046 by closing a US sale on the film to SonyPictures Classics (SPC).

The movie, which was screened in its first incarnation in competition atCannes last year, had been extensively pre-sold by the Hong Kong andAmsterdam-based Fortissimo to companies such as Ocean in France, Prokino inGermany, Tartan in the UK and A-Film in Benelux; after Cannes, an Asian dealwas closed with 20th Century Fox for nine territories including South Korea,Taiwan and Hong Kong.

Wong started to re-edit the film after the Cannes screening, even thoughit was one of the most warmly-received films at the festival. The new re-editof 2046 was first unveiled on its commercial release in China from Sept31 and then a week later as the opening night film at the Pusan InternationalFilm Festival.

As details began to emerge of Wong's next film, an untitled, unscripted$20m-plus movie to star Nicole Kidman, the domestic distribution plan in the USfor 2046 was still unclear.

The deal brings Wong into the SPC fold for the first time. Through itsrelationships with film-makers like Zhang Yimou, Ang Lee, Kim Ki-duk and ChenKaige, SPC has been one of the most consistent importers of Asian auteur cinemainto the US market.