But the final reel should make it to red-carpet event
Acclaimed Hong Kong director Wong Kar-wai's latest film will miss its scheduled debut at the Cannes Film Festival today because the final reel cannot be delivered in time.
The official press screening of 2046 was due to be held at 8.30am today. It may also miss the 2.30pm show, but festival organisers insisted it would be ready in time for the 7pm red-carpet screening which the director and stars - including Tony Leung Chiu-wai and Gong Li - are scheduled to attend.
The final reel of the film was being printed in Bangkok.
'We've got two people flying every day from Bangkok and the last reel is due to arrive in Paris at 7am [this] morning,' said Wouter Barendrecht, co-chairman of Fortissimo Films, which is handling the film's international distribution. 'Then we have to add the subtitles and get the print to Cannes.'
2046 is being tipped as a Cannes award-winner, although other entries such as The Motorcycle Diaries, directed by Brazil's Walter Salles, are also strong contenders.