“FOOTLOOSE” STAR JULIANNE HOUGH TO RECEIVE CINEMACON RISING STAR OF 2011 AWARD

PARAMOUNT PICTURES TO RELEASE “FOOTLOOSE” ON OCTOBER 14TH, 2011

Washington, D.C. (March 2, 2011) – Julianne Hough will receive a “CinemaCon Rising Star of 2011 Award,” it was announced today by Mitch Neuhauser, managing director of CinemaCon, which will be held March 28-31, 2011, at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Hough will be presented with this special honor at the inaugural “CinemaCon Big Screen Achievement Award” ceremony to take place on Thursday evening, March 31st in The Colosseum of Caesars Palace. The Coca-Cola Company, Official Presenting Sponsor of CinemaCon, will host the final night gala awards program.

“Already a star in the world of music, television and dance, Julianne Hough is sure to thrill audiences with her portrayal of Ariel in Paramount Pictures fall release ‘Footloose’,” noted Neuhauser. “We are excited to be able to present her with a CinemaCon Rising Star of 2011 Award and can’t wait to see what the future holds for this born entertainer.”

Hough will next be seen starring as Ariel in the Paramount Pictures release “Footloose” on October 14, 2011. Writer/Director Craig Brewer delivers a new take of the beloved 1984 classic film, when Ren MacCormack (played by newcomer Kenny Wormald) is transplanted from Boston to the small town of Bomont where he experiences a heavy dose of culture shock. A tragic accident led Bomont’s local councilmen and the beloved Reverend Shaw Moore (Dennis Quaid) to implement ordinances prohibiting loud music and dancing. Ren challenges the ban, revitalizing the town and falling in love with the minister’s troubled daughter, Ariel, in the process.

Actress/Singer/Dancer Julianne Hough is known to millions of fans as the two-time professional dance champion on ABC-TV’s top-rated “Dancing With the Stars.” In 2008, she released her self-titled debut album on Universal Music Group Nashville which hit the Billboard Country charts at #1 and entered the Billboard 200 at #3. The album spawned two hit singles “That Song in My Head,” and “My Hallelujah Song,” earning her two Academy of Country Music Awards. In 2010, she made her big screen debut in the star-studded ensemble cast of Screen Gems’ dramatic musical “Burlesque,” working alongside an all-star cast, including Cher, Christina Aguilera, Stanley Tucci, Eric Dane, Kristen Bell and Cam Gigandet.

About CinemaCon

Held March 28-31, 2011 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, CinemaCon is expected to play host to more than 6,000 motion picture theater industry professionals. Additional information on CinemaCon, the Official Convention of NATO, can be found at www.cinemacon.com.

About NATO

The National Association of Theatre Owners is the largest exhibition trade organization in the world, representing more than 30,000 movie screens in all 50 states, and additional cinemas in 50 countries worldwide. NATO’s membership includes the largest cinema chains in the world and hundreds of independent theatre owners, too. For more information visit www.natoonline.org or email nato@natodc.com.

Media Contacts:

Heather Lewandoski
Rogers & Cowan
310.854.8147
hlewandoski@rogersandcowan.com

Jessica Erskine
Rogers & Cowan
310.854.8129
jerskine@rogersandcowan.com