Nordic major Nordisk Film is to open a US office in Los Angeles on January 1, where international head of acquisitions Kim Beich will handle the company's many US relationships.

"It is a part of the strategy we have been following for some years now," Nordisk Film MD, Kenneth D Plummer told ScreenDaily.com. "Our focus has been on local Nordic product and American independent titles and today we are the biggest distributor of both in our region."

Nordisk Film is a part of media major Egmont, and covers production, distribution and exhibition in the Nordic countries. As most titles picked up by Nordisk for theatrical, video and TV previously have been picked up at markets, Beich's daily contact with sales and production outfits in Los Angeles should give Nordisk an advantage over its competitors.

Beich has been working for Nordisk Film for 16 years. In 2002 Nordisk Film had a turnover of Euros 432m and 1,152 employees.