HARRY POTTER FILM FRANCHISE TO RECEIVE CINEMACON HALL OF FAME AWARD

WARNER BROS. PICTURES TO RELEASE “HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS—PART 2” ON JULY 15, 2011

Washington D.C. (March 16, 2011) – The Harry Potter film franchise will receive the “CinemaCon Hall of Fame 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. Harry Potter producer David Heyman will be presented with this special honor at the inaugural “CinemaCon Big Screen Achievement Awards” 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.

The “CinemaCon Hall of Fame Award” has been created to single out that rare and exceptional achievement in the motion picture theatre industry and will be presented only on special occasions. The “CinemaCon Hall of Fame Award” is reserved for those truly special achievements, as well as contributions from talent, filmmakers, franchises and even technology based game-changers that help make our industry so great.

“With Harry Potter being the largest-grossing franchise in motion picture history, we could not think of a more exciting or appropriate way to inaugurate this special award than by presenting it to Harry Potter producer David Heyman in honor of this incredible success,” said Neuhauser. “Since the first film hit theatres in 2001, Harry Potter has created a global phenomenon unlike anything ever seen before. Ten years and seven blockbuster films later, the most successful film franchise of all time—having entertained and thrilled audiences of all generations around the world—will present its final chapter this summer, while its legacy in film history will live on forever.”

The final adventure in the Harry Potter film franchise, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2” will be released in theatres and IMAX, in 3D and 2D, by Warner Bros. Pictures on July 15, 2011. In the epic finale the battle between good and evil forces of the wizarding world escalates into an all-out war. The stakes have never been higher and no one is safe. But it is Harry Potter who may be called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice as he draws closer to the climatic showdown with Lord Voldemort.

“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2” stars Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson, reprising their roles as Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. The film’s ensemble cast also includes Helena Bonham Carter, Jim Broadbent, Robbie Coltrane, Warwick Davis, Tom Felton, Ralph Fiennes, Michael Gambon, Ciarán Hinds, John Hurt, Jason Isaacs, Matthew Lewis, Gary Oldman, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, David Thewlis, Emma Thompson, Julie Walters and Bonnie Wright. Directed by David Yates, the film is produced by David Heyman, David Barron and J.K. Rowling, with Lionel Wigram serving as executive producer. The screenplay is by Steve Kloves, based on the book by J.K. Rowling.

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