SHARKS 3D, A Breathtaking New 3D IMAX Film Presented by Jean-Michel Cousteau, Premieres at the New England Aquarium

SHARKS 3D, A Breathtaking New 3D IMAX Film Presented by Jean-Michel Cousteau, Premieres at the New England Aquarium

- Jean-Michel Cousteau and director of cinematography Gavin McKinney to address the media on the importance of protecting sharks during a special presentation of SHARKS 3D at the Aquarium's Simons IMAX Theatre on March 30, 2005

- Come closer than you've ever dared to one of nature's most sophisticated yet endangered predators. Swim with the biggest fish on earth and overcome your deepest fears as you encounter the Great White Shark.

BOSTON, March 23 /PRNewswire/ -- The New England Aquarium, Jean-Michel Cousteau and 3D Entertainment, in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme, invite audiences to a stunning immersive diving experience with SHARKS 3D, the first-ever shark-themed 3D IMAX theatre film presented in exclusivity in Massachusetts at the Simons IMAX Theatre. Join the expert international team of ocean explorers that brought you OCEAN WONDERLAND 3D, which has already been seen by over 262,000 audience members in Boston, on this unique round-the-globe expedition documenting the life of the ultimate predator.

The media are invited to attend a special presentation of SHARKS 3D on Wednesday, March 30th at the New England Aquarium's Simons IMAX Theatre in presence of Jean-Michel Cousteau and the film's director of photography, Gavin McKinney.

Schedule of Events

- 12:00 pm: Lunch, and one-on-one interview opportunities with Messrs. Cousteau and McKinney - 12:30 pm: Screening of SHARKS 3D: A Close Encounter with the Lions and Tigers of the Ocean - 1:15 pm: Q&A with Mr. Cousteau and local students having attended the press screening - 1:30 pm: One-on-one/Stand-up interview opportunities with Messrs. Cousteau and McKinney

The Simons IMAX Theatre brings SHARKS 3D to life in grand fashion, offering a unique 3D experience from each of its 400 stadium-style seats with high-definition images projected onto the huge, eight story-tall screen and 12,000 watts of pure digital surround sound. To purchase individual tickets, please visit http://www.neaq.org/visit/tickets.html or call 1-617-973-5206 for group sales. The Simons IMAX Theatre is located at the Central Wharf in Boston.

"I am very pleased that Bostonians will now get the chance to share in this truly memorable encounter with the world's great shark species, such as the Great White, Whale Shark and Hammerhead," said Jean-Michel Cousteau. "Watching SHARKS 3D is like pulling on a diving suit and swimming weightlessly with sharks all around. If you've ever wanted to know what it's really like to dive with sharks, this film is certainly a must-see experience. You can witness them as they truly are in their natural habitat -- not wicked man-eating creatures, as they are far too frequently depicted in modern feature films, but wild, fascinating and highly endangered animals that have been in existence since a million years before the dinosaurs."

"Despite the existence of various international treaties, certain shark species have been reduced by nearly 80% in the past decade alone. Today, the priority is not only to end the steady decline of the shark population, but to rehabilitate its image among the general public," said UNEP's Executive Director, Klaus Toepfer. "We believe that this outstanding IMAX theatre film is an ideal means of reaching a vast audience and changing a great number of people's perception of these animals."

"The New England Aquarium is particularly excited about SHARKS 3D because this film will allow us to present a large array of animals here which are impossible to exhibit as they either are too large, too fragile or too endangered. Only the lifelike reality of IMAX 3D can allow our guests to witness the natural behaviors of these magnificent animals while giving them the sensation of swimming safely alongside these amazing, yet sometimes unpredictable creatures," said Derek Threinen, Director of the Aquarium's IMAX theatre.

"The film's purpose is to lead people to think differently and positively about sharks. As many fellow conservationists have stated before, we protect only what we love. Therefore, we first need to understand what sharks are really like before there can be a change in public perception. Then perhaps we will begin to protect them," said director Jean-Jacques Mantello.

Principal photography on SHARKS 3D required an extensive nine-month shoot totaling 500 dive hours. The film was shot on location in Guadalupe Island, Socorro Island, Revillagigedos and the Sea of Cortez (Mexico), Malpelo Island (Colombia), the Red Sea (Egypt), Sodwana Bay (South Africa), Inhambane (Mozambique), San Diego (USA) and Rangiroa Atoll (Polynesia).

SHARKS 3D is produced by 3D Entertainment and McKinney Underwater Productions Inc. Directed by Jean-Jacques Mantello, filmed by Gavin McKinney and executive produced by Francois Mantello. SHARKS 3D features an original score composed by Christophe Jacquelin.

SHARKS 3D is distributed worldwide by 3D Entertainment in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme (http://www.unep.org/) and is endorsed and supported by Ocean Futures Society (http://www.oceanfutures.org/), Reef Check (http://www.reefcheck.org/) and PADI's Project Aware (http://www.projectaware.org/). In addition to its Boston engagement, SHARKS 3D is now playing in North America in Chattanooga (TN), Galveston (TX), Vancouver (BC), New Orleans (LA), Atlantic City (NJ), Virginia Beach (VA and Las Vegas (NV), and in Europe. For a full list of IMAX theatres showing SHARKS 3D, please go to http://www.sharks3d.com/

SHARKS 3D is recommended for general audiences.

Official website: http://www.sharks3d.com/

About 3D Entertainment: Based in London (UK), 3D Entertainment http://www.sharks3d.com/ specializes in the production and distribution of marine conservation and environmental-themed films for the worldwide network of IMAX theatres. The company's mission is to immerse audiences in films that inspire and educate. More information can be found at http://www.sharks3d.com/

IMAX is a registered trademark of IMAX Corporation

Source: 3D Entertainment

CONTACT: Tony LaCasse of New England Aquarium, 1-617-877-6871, tlacasse@neaq.org; or Paul Zemitzsch of Sequel LLC., 1-314-725-5645, paul@sequel-llc.com, for 3D Entertainment; or Julien Bollee of 3D Entertainment, 1-800-819-7753, jbollee@sharks3D.com

Web site: http://www.neaq.org/visit/tickets.html

Web site: http://www.sharks3d.com/

------- Profile: Ent