Fortissimo Films has acquired worldwide rights, excluding Asia but including Japan and Korea, to action thriller Eye In The Sky from Hong Kong 's Sundream Motion Pictures.

The directorial debut of Johnnie To's regular screenwriter Yau Nai Hoi, the film recently premiered at Berlin and is one of the opening films of the upcoming Hong Kong International Film Festival (March 20 - April 11).

To's Milkyway Image produced the film for Sundream. Tony Leung Ka-fai, Simon Yam and newcomer Kate Tsui head the cast.

The title refers to how both ordinary people, as well as those with criminal intent, can be kept under surveillance at all times with the use of modern technology. The story follows a crack squad from the Hong Kong police force's most secretive and elite branch, the Criminal Intelligence Bureau (CIB), as they track down a criminal mastermind.

The deal was completed by Fortissimo's co-chairman Michael J. Werner and Sundream's vice president of distribution Otto Leung.

'Yau is destined to be one of Hong Kong 's rising stars; already in his first film he has created a masterful story with a distinctive flair,' Werner said.

Sundream, the film production arm of Hong Kong cable operator i-CABLE Communication, was launched in 2005 and has since produced films such as 49 Days, a Grand Prix winner at the Fukuoka Asian Film Festival, and recent Chinese New Year release Twins Mission.

Fortissimo previously worked with the company on pan-Asian box office hit Battle Of Wits which Sundream co-produced with partners from China, Korea and Japan.

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