Sony PicturesClassics (SPC) has finally completed its acquisition of US and English Canadianrights to Wong Kar-wai's epic romance 2046, which first played in competition at Cannes last year.

The film, whichhas already opened in the UK, France, Japan, Germany and most otherinternational markets, was recut after its Cannes screening by the fastidiousdirector and relaunched for its Chinese release on Sept 31, 2004. The newversion also opened the Pusan Film Festival on Oct 7.

The lavish taleof love, painful choices and lost opportunities starring Tony Leung Chiu Wai,Zhang Ziyi, Gong Li and Maggie Cheung will receive its US premiere at theTribeca Film Festival in April before going on general release in the autumn.

"I am pleasedthat 2046 has foundthe right home in North America," Kar-wai said in a statement. "The SonyPictures Classics team demonstrated to me that they had the passion, strategy,experience and resources to give my film the winning positioning and commitmentit deserves in order to present 2046 to the North American audiences."

In a jointstatement SPC's Michael Barker, Tom Bernard, and Dylan Leiner added: "2046 is one of the finest movies from one ofthe world's great directors.

"Wong Kar-wai's world on thescreen reminds us why we love the movies. We deeply appreciate the diligence ofWong Kar-wai's producing partners Alain Vannier and Eric Heumann, andFortissimo Films' Wouter Barendrecht and Michael Werner in making this dealhappen."