MORGAN FREEMAN TO RECEIVE “2013 CINEMA ICON AWARD”

SUMMIT ENTERTAINMENT TO RELEASE “NOW YOU SEE ME” 31 MAY, 2013

WASHINGTON D.C. (2 April, 2013) – Academy Award-winning actor Morgan Freeman will receive the “2013 Cinema Icon Award” at this year’s CinemaCon, it was announced today by the convention’s Managing Director Mitch Neuhauser. CinemaCon, the largest and most important convention for the motion picture theatre industry, will be held from 15–18 April, 2013 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas at which time more than 5,000 industry members will be gathering. Freeman will be presented with this special honor at the “CinemaCon Big Screen Achievement Awards” ceremony to take place on Thursday evening, 18 April, in The Colosseum at Caesars Palace. The Coca-Cola Company, the official presenting sponsor of CinemaCon, will host the final night gala awards program.

“As one of the most esteemed actors of our time, Morgan Freeman has portrayed some of the most memorable characters ever to appear on film. From ‘Driving Miss Daisy,’ ‘Glory,’ ‘The Shawshank Redemption’ and ‘Unforgiven’ to ‘Million Dollar Baby,’ for which he won an Academy Award, and the recent Batman ‘The Dark Knight Trilogy,’ Freeman’s presence exudes a dignity, charm and soul unmatched by any other actor,” noted Neuhauser. “We could not be more honored and privileged to have him be our recipient of the ‘2013 Cinema Icon Award.’”

Freeman can be seen later this spring in “Now You See Me,” which is set to be released by Summit Entertainment, a Lionsgate company, on 31 May, 2013. The film, which pits an elite FBI squad against a group of the world’s greatest illusionists who pull off a series of daring heists, also stars Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo, Woody Harrelson, Mélanie Laurent, Isla Fisher, Dave Franco, Common, José Garcia and Michael Caine. He can also be seen on 19 April in the sci-fi actioner “Oblivion” and later this year in the comedy “Last Vegas” and the action-adventure film “The Last Knights,” and he will be lending his voice to the live-action/animated “LEGO: The Piece of Resistance.”

One of the most recognizable figures in American cinema, Freeman’s works are among the most critically and commercially successful films of all time. He won the Academy Award® in 2005 for Best Supporting Actor for his role in “Million Dollar Baby,” and won the Golden Globe® in 1990 for Best Actor for his performance in “Driving Miss Daisy.” In 2012, he was honored with the Cecil B. DeMille Award at the Golden Globes®, and in 2011 he received the 39th AFI Lifetime Achievement Award. He has also received the coveted Kennedy Center Honor for his distinguished acting. His additional film credits include “Street Smart,” “The Shawshank Redemption” and “Invictus,” for which he also received Academy Award® nominations, “The Dark Knight Rises,” “The Bucket List,” “Glory” and “Amistad,” to name a few. He has also narrated two Academy Award®-winning feature documentaries: “The Long Way Home” (1998) and “March of the Penguins” (2006).

About CinemaCon

CinemaCon will attract upwards of 5,000 motion picture professionals from all facets of the industry – from exhibition and distribution, to the equipment and concession areas – all on hand to celebrate the moviegoing experience and the cinema industry. From exclusive Hollywood product presentations highlighting a slate of upcoming films, to must-see premiere feature screenings, to the biggest stars, producers and directors, CinemaCon will help jumpstart the excitement and buzz that surrounds the summer season at the box office.

CinemaCon is delighted to have both the International Cinema Technology Association (ICTA) and National Association of Concessionaires (NAC) as its tradeshow partners. Cinemacon is also delighted to have as its official presenting sponsor, The Coca-Cola Company, one of the industry’s greatest and highly regarded and respected partners in the world of the movies. Additional information on CinemaCon, the Official Convention of NATO, can be found at www.cinemacon.com.

About NATO

The National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO) is the largest exhibition trade organization in the world, representing more than 30,000 movie screens in all 50 states, and additional cinemas in 57 countries worldwide. NATO’s membership includes the largest cinema chains in the world and hundreds of independent theatre owners, too.

Media Contacts:

Heather Lewandoski
Rogers & Cowan
310.854.8147
hlewandoski@rogersandcowan.com

Jessica Erskine
Rogers & Cowan
310.854.8129
jerskine@rogersandcowan.com