MUMBAI: U2 3D, which is the recipient of the Best Musical Film Award at the Los Premios MTV Latin American Video Music Awards, will open in more than 40 theaters in Japan on 7 March. The film, which premiered at last year’s Sundance Film Festival, has grossed more than $20 million worldwide.

Four days before U2 3D opens in Japan, the Irish rock band’s new studio album No Line on the Horizon , their first since 2004,  will be released internationally.

National Geographic Cinema Ventures president Distribution Mark Katz said, “We’re delighted that U2 3D, which continues to do well domestically and internationally, will be released in Japan. Because of the importance of the Japanese market, we waited to open there so the film could screen in the best-equipped 3D and IMAX theaters. And the film’s release on the heels of the band’s new CD is perfect timing.”

“This was our company’s first production, and it was truly a labor of love,” said 3ality Digital CEO Sandy Climan, which produced and shot the movie. “We were confident that we could create an immersive experience that made viewers feel like they were part of the band, and we delivered on that promise. We’re thrilled that the movie continues to enthrall audiences around the world.”

Filmed in South America during U2’s Vertigo Tour, U2 3D is the first live-action movie ever shot, produced and exhibited in digital 3D. The film captures the intimacy between band and audience in a unique, visceral way and establishes a new standard in 3D digital technology.

Directed by Catherine Owens and Mark Pellington, U2 3D transforms a series of live concerts by one of the world’s most acclaimed bands into a completely new entertainment experience.