Lionsgate and Crest Animation Productions Launch Multi-Picture Partnership With CGI Animated Family Film ALPHA AND OMEGA

Lionsgate and Crest Animation Productions Launch Multi-Picture Partnership With CGI Animated Family Film ALPHA AND OMEGA

Cast Includes Justin Long, Hayden Panettiere, Christina Ricci, Danny Glover, Dennis Hopper, Larry Miller

2010 Theatrical Release Planned

SANTA MONICA, Calif., April 3, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- LIONSGATE(R) (NYSE:LGF) , the leading independent filmed entertainment studio, announced today that it will launch its multi-picture partnership with Crest Animation Productions with the CGI animated theatrical family film ALPHA AND OMEGA. Lionsgate and Crest are co-financing and co-producing ALPHA AND OMEGA, which is scheduled for theatrical release in 2010. The announcement was made by Lionsgate's Executive Vice President of Lionsgate Family Entertainment Ken Katsumoto and Crest Animation Production's CEO Noah Fogelson.

The story of two very different young wolves thrown together by circumstance, ALPHA AND OMEGA features rising young stars Justin Long (the upcoming HE'S JUST NOT THAT INTO YOU, LIVE FREE OR DIE HARD,) and Hayden Panettiere ("Heroes") in the primary roles. The eclectic cast includes Christina Ricci (the upcoming SPEED RACER, THE OPPOSITE OF SEX), Danny Glover (BE KIND REWIND, BARNYARD), film legend Dennis Hopper (the upcoming ELEGY, EASY RIDER) and Larry Miller (BEE MOVIE, THE ANT BULLY). The film is directed by Anthony Bell ("The Boondocks," "Rugrats") and Ben Gluck (BROTHER BEAR 2). Chris Denk wrote the screenplay based on an original story by Steve Moore (co-creator of OPEN SEASON). Ken Katsumoto is producing for Lionsgate, and Richard Rich is producing for Crest. The executive producers are Noah Fogelson, CEO of Crest Animation Productions, Seemha Ramanna, Managing Director and co-founder of Crest Animation Studios, and A.K. Madhavan, CEO of Crest Animation Studios.

"We are very excited to be working with Crest, one of the world's finest CG animation producers. Everyone at Crest is passionate about creating high-quality animated family entertainment, and that commitment is reflected in ALPHA AND OMEGA," said Katsumoto. "This is a classic journey film in the vein of FINDING NEMO and THE LION KING, filled with all manner of richly imagined particulars. And why not begin a partnership with a movie about wolves, one of Nature's most cohesive social units?"

Said Fogelson, "We are thrilled to be in business with Lionsgate, a company that is continually innovating in terms of both production and marketing. We are looking forward to a fruitful collaboration and feel we are off to a great start with ALPHA AND OMEGA. We have a wonderfully talented cast and an outstanding team of filmmakers led by Anthony Bell and Ben Gluck, who truly understand the art and craft of animated storytelling."

ALPHA AND OMEGA is currently in production, with pre and post-production taking place in Los Angeles and key animation at Crest Animation Studios in India. Lionsgate will distribute the film in North America and the UK. Mandate International will be launching international sales at the upcoming Cannes film festival for the rest of the world, excluding India.

The deal was negotiated for Lionsgate by Wayne Levin, Executive Vice President, Corporate Operations, Ken Katsumoto, Wendy Jaffe, Executive Vice President Legal & Business Affairs, Acquisitions and Co-Productions, Sean Kisker, Vice President, Strategic Planning; and for Crest Animation Productions by Ramanna and Fogelson.

SYNOPSIS

Two bickering wolves -- one a disciplined, Alpha-bred wolf (Panettiere) and the other a fun-loving, comical Omega wolf (Long) -- are captured and taken thousands of miles from their home. Determined to rejoin their pack, the two mismatched wolves begin a dangerous trek across unfamiliar terrain, battling the odds, the elements, the bears and one another -- and finding love along the way.

ABOUT LIONSGATE

Lionsgate is the leading independent filmed entertainment studio, winning the 2005 Best Picture Academy Award(R) for CRASH, and the Company is a premier producer and distributor of motion pictures, television programming, home entertainment, family entertainment and video-on-demand content. Its prestigious and prolific library of nearly 12,000 motion picture titles and television episodes is a valuable source of recurring revenue and a foundation for the growth of the Company's core businesses. The Lionsgate brand is synonymous with original, daring, quality entertainment in markets around the globe.

ABOUT CREST ANIMATION

Crest Animation is a full-service animation studio specializing in the development and production of CGI-animated properties for theatrical, television, home entertainment and interactive distribution. Crest provides development and pre and post-production services out of its offices in Burbank, California and animation is produced at Crest's award-winning animation studio in India, where Crest is acknowledged as a leader in the Indian animation industry.

                          http://www.lionsgate.com/     For further information, contact:     Sarah Greenberg    310-255-3856    sgreenberg@lionsgate.com      For corporate inquiries, please contact:     Peter D. Wilkes    pwilkes@lionsgate.com    310-255-3726  

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact: kwalsh@lionsgate.com

Source: Lionsgate

CONTACT: Sarah Greenberg, +1-310-255-3856, sgreenberg@lionsgate.com, or
corporate inquiries, Peter D. Wilkes, +1-310-255-3726, pwilkes@lionsgate.com,
both of Lionsgate

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

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Profile: International Entertainment