Quentin Tarantino to Receive the 2008 Ray-Ban Visionary Award at Sundance in Park City, Utah

Quentin Tarantino to Receive the 2008 Ray-Ban Visionary Award at Sundance in Park City, Utah

Event Presented by Ray-Ban and The Creative Coalition

Special Performance by The Bravery

NEW YORK, Dec. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Quentin Tarantino will be honored with the 2008 Ray-Ban Visionary Award, presented by Ray-Ban and The Creative Coalition on January 20th, 2008 in Park City, Utah, at 8:00pm in Harry O's. The evening will conclude with a special musical performance by The Bravery.

The Ray-Ban Visionary Award in partnership with The Creative Coalition is in its 7th year and is proud to honor the work and dedication of an individual who possesses extraordinary passion, creativity and leadership, and whose work showcases vision, imagination and originality. Previous award winners include actors Aaron Eckhart, Matt Dillon, Kevin Bacon, President of HBO Films Colin Callender and EVP/COO New Line Productions and President of Fine Line Features Mark Ordesky.

A Visionary Oscar-winning screenwriter and Palme D'Or-winning director, Quentin Tarantino has distinguished himself as one of the industry's finest and most original talents. Tarantino quickly rose to stardom with the 1992 Sundance debut of "Reservoir Dogs" and has since achieved legendary cult status with such films as "Pulp Fiction," "Grindhouse," "Jackie Brown," and "Kill Bill." Tarantino's 1994 film "Pulp Fiction" premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, where it won the coveted Palme D'Or award and later went on to be nominated for multiple Academy Awards in 1995, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay -- the latter with which Tarantino was awarded.

This year Ray-Ban and The Creative Coalition are proud to honor Quentin Tarantino as a writer, director, and producer. Tarantino has had an immense impact on the film and television industries. His scope of work includes guest directing the 2005 neo-noir film "Sin City," producing such hits as "Hostel" and "Hostel: Part II," and directing episodes of popular television series such as "ER" and "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation." Not only did Tarantino serve as president of the 2004 Cannes Film Festival jury, he also has his own film festival, aptly named "QT Fest," presented by the Austin Film Society.

Adding excitement to this year's event, The Bravery will perform immediately following the awards ceremony. The Bravery is an American rock band, originating in New York City, whose sound is a combination of disco and synth rock. Their 2005 self-titled debut album reached the top twenty charts in the United States and top five in the United Kingdom. Their latest album, The Sun and the Moon, was released in 2007 to much critical acclaim and features the singles "Believe" and "Time Won't Let Me Go." The band has recently toured with Incubus and The Smashing Pumpkins.

Authenticity and tradition are the hallmark values behind Ray-Ban's history and success that turned it into an international expression of style and passion. That style and passion has been showcased in some of cinema's most iconic films. As Ray-Ban celebrates its 70th birthday the brand is as committed as ever to the film community as is demonstrated by their return to the Sundance Film Festival as an official sponsor. To celebrate the brands special birth, Ray-Ban will manufacture Ray-Ban Ultra: a prestigious limited edition of two of the most legendary styles that made the brand famous: Ray- Ban Aviator and Ray-Ban Outdoorsman.

About Ray-Ban

Beginning in 1937 with the early Aviator style, the introduction of other classics such as the Wayfarer in 1952 and continuing today, Ray-Ban is a brand that embodies America and adventure, great cities and wide-open spaces, heroism, individuality and authenticity. Ray-Ban is the world's best-known eyewear brand and global leader in its sector. All models in the Ray-Ban collections are products of meticulous, original styling that translates the best of the latest fashion trends into an ever-contemporary look for millions of Ray-Ban wearers around the world. Introduced to the silver screen in 1961, the unique Ray-Ban lifestyle is embodied in its collections, reflected throughout hundreds of films, and remains the choice eyewear brand of both in real life and in films.

About The Creative Coalition

The Creative Coalition (www.thecreativecoalition.org) is the leading 501 (C)(3) nonprofit, nonpartisan social and public advocacy organization of the arts and entertainment community. Founded in 1989 by prominent members of the creative community, The Creative Coalition is dedicated to educating and mobilizing its members on issues of public importance, primarily public education, the First Amendment, arts advocacy, media literacy, destigmatizing mental illness and stemming runaway production. Headquartered in New York City, The Creative Coalition also has offices in Washington, DC, Los Angeles and San Francisco. The Creative Coalition does not endorse or raise funds for political parties or candidates.

About Luxottica Group S.p.A.

Luxottica Group is a global leader in eyewear, with over 5,900 optical and sun retail stores in North America, Asia-Pacific, China, South Africa and Europe and a strong brand portfolio that includes Ray-Ban, the best-selling sun and prescription eyewear brand in the world, as well as, among others, license brands Bvlgari, Burberry, Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana, Donna Karan, Polo Ralph Lauren, Prada, Salvatore Ferragamo and Versace, and key house brands Vogue, Persol, Arnette and REVO. In addition to a global wholesale network that touches 130 countries, the Group manages leading retail brands such as LensCrafters and Pearle Vision in North America, OPSM and Laubman & Pank in Asia-Pacific, and Sunglass Hut globally. The Group's products are designed and manufactured in six Italy-based high-quality manufacturing plants and in the only two China-based plants wholly-owned by a premium eyewear manufacturer. For fiscal year 2006, Luxottica Group (NYSE: LUX; MTA: LUX) posted consolidated net sales of euro 4.7 billion. Additional information on the Group is available at www.luxottica.com.

Information about Ray-Ban: www.ray-ban.com.

Source: Ray-Ban

CONTACT: Erin Burke of Rogers & Cowan for Ray-Ban, Office,
+1-212-854-8447, Mobile, +1-646-256-5983, eburke@rogersandcowan.com; or Tara
C. Silver of THE CREATIVE COALITION, Office, +1-202-466-1396, Mobile,
+1-202-415-6253, Tara@westinrinehart.com

Web site: http://www.ray-ban.com/
http://www.thecreativecoalition.org/
http://www.luxottica.com/

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Profile: International Entertainment