TAYLOR KITSCH TO RECEIVE THE “CINEMACON® MALE STAR OF TOMORROW AWARD”

UNIVERSAL PICTURES TO RELEASE THE ACTOR’S NEXT TWO FILMS: “BATTLESHIP” ON MAY 18, 2012, AND “SAVAGES” ON JULY 6, 2012

WASHINGTON D.C. (April 11, 2012) – Taylor Kitsch will receive the “CinemaCon Male Star of Tomorrow Award,“ it was announced today by the convention’s managing director, Mitch Neuhauser. CinemaCon, the official convention of The National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO), the largest and most important gathering of cinema owners and operators from around the world, will be held April 23 – 26, 2012, at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Kitsch will be presented with this special honor at the “CinemaCon Big Screen Achievement Awards” ceremony that will take place on Thursday evening, April 26, in The Colosseum at Caesars Palace. The Coca-Cola Company, the official presenting sponsor of CinemaCon, will host the final night gala awards program.

“Having impressed television audiences with his engrossing portrayal of a troubled Texas high-school fullback in ‘Friday Night Lights,’ Kitsch continues to dive into each assigned role with an incredible passion that shines through in all of his work,” said Neuhauser. “A talented young man with a bright future ahead of him entertaining moviegoing audiences around the world, I could not think of someone more fitting to be this year’s ‘CinemaCon Male Star of Tomorrow.’ We are honored to be able to present him with this award.”

Kitsch will next be seen as Lt. Alex Hopper in this summer’s “Battleship,” which will be released on May 18 by Universal Pictures. Peter Berg (“Hancock,” “The Kingdom,” “Friday Night Lights”) directs and produces this epic-scale action-adventure that unfolds across the seas, in the skies and over land as our planet fights for survival against a superior force. The film also stars Alexander Skarsgård, Rihanna, Brooklyn Decker, Tadanobu Asano and Liam Neeson.

Later this summer, Kitsch will be featured as a former Navy Seal and ex-mercenary in the new ferocious thriller from three-time Oscar® winner Oliver Stone, Universal’s “Savages,” which will be released on July 6. “Savages” features an all-star ensemble cast of Blake Lively, Aaron Johnson, John Travolta, Benicio Del Toro, Salma Hayek, Emile Hirsch and Demian Bichir.

Most recently seen in Disney’s live-action film “John Carter,” Kitsch, who grew up in British Columbia, began his acting career in 2002, when he moved to New York to study with renowned acting coach Sheila Grey. Within a year, he landed his first major feature film role in “Snakes on a Plane,” before landing a role on NBC’s critically acclaimed sports drama “Friday Night Lights.” Additional film credits include the horror flick “The Covenant,” the sci-fi action-adventure “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” and Steven Silver’s “The Bang Bang Club.”

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 2012 will be held from April 23-26, 2012 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. In returning to Caesars Palace, CinemaCon is able to offer its delegates a modern and upscale conference facility and a one-of-a-kind moviegoing experience in The Colosseum, the 4,200 seat theatre and crown jewel of Caesars Palace.

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 50 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