LONDON (Variety) - A remastered version of Stanley Kubrick's "2001: A Space Odyssey" will close the 2001 Berlin Film Festival before being re-released in several major territories worldwide.

The Berlin screening is set for Feb. 18, while the March 7 re-release date will coincide with the second anniversary of the director's death.

Before then, there will be one chance to see the film Jan. 1 at the National Film Theatre (NFT) in London. With the re-release upcoming, "2001" is not available for theatrical screening anywhere else in the world.

Warner Bros. has made an exception for the NFT because shortly before Kubrick's death the British Film Institute spent a great deal of money creating a new 70mm print.

It is hoped that Kubrick's widow and children will attend the NFT presentation. They are also expected to attend Berlin, along with the film's special-effects maestro Douglas Trumbull.

This print will not include the remastered soundtrack that Warner technicians are working on, both for the theatrical reissue and video/DVD release later in 2001.

The territories in which a theatrical outing is planned include the U.K., France, Germany, Japan and Australia. No specific plans have been set for a U.S. re-release, although Warner insiders said they expect one later in 2001.

© Reuters/Variety