LOS ANGELES, Mar 21, 2002 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ --

1995 Brian Grazer Production, Directed by Ron Howard and Starring Tom Hanks is First Ever Live Action 35mm Film to Be Digitally Re-mastered Into 15/70 Using New, Proprietary IMAX(R) DMR(TM) Technology

Universal Pictures, Imagine Entertainment and IMAX Corporation (Nasdaq: IMAX; TSE) will make motion picture history this summer when the Academy Award-winning "Apollo 13" becomes the first 35mm live-action film ever to be digitally re-mastered into IMAX's 15/70 format using revolutionary, proprietary IMAX(R) Digital Re-mastering (DMR(TM)) technology, it was announced today by Richard L. Gelfond and Bradley J. Wechsler, CEOs and chairmen, IMAX, Nikki Rocco, president of distribution, Universal Pictures and Brian Grazer and Ron Howard, partners, Imagine Entertainment. Directed by this year's Academy Award(R)-nominee Ron Howard and starring two-time Oscar(R) winner Tom Hanks, "Apollo 13:The IMAX Experience(R)" will be distributed by IMAX this Summer exclusively to IMAX theatres throughout the world.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020321/NYTH080 )

The announcement was made at a press conference this morning attended by Gelfond, Grazer, Hanks, Howard, Rocco and Wechsler at the Universal City IMAX Theatre with a presentation showing four key scenes from "Apollo 13" in both the regular 35mm and then the new IMAX format.

"Just imagine the experience of seeing the world's greatest films in super sharp IMAX on screens eight stories high and more than a hundred feet wide," said Gelfond and Wechsler. "When we first saw 'Apollo 13' transformed using this technology, we were speechless. Star fields which were three points of light in 35mm become full galaxies in IMAX. For more than five years one of our key goals has been to marry the best of Hollywood's live action with the world's best visual and audio experiences. Today this goal became a reality."

Added Nikki Rocco, "When we saw a test of what could be done with a few short scenes, not only were we reminded of what a fabulous film Brian and Ron made, we were absolutely blown away by the picture and sound quality of the IMAX version. We are thrilled to be embarking on this history-making venture by joining forces with Imagine and IMAX to bring Apollo back to the big screen -- and I mean, the really big screen."

Grazer said, "When IMAX approached us about having 'Apollo 13' as the first live-action film to be converted for IMAX theatres, we were really excited by the opportunity to be pioneers with them. As a filmmaker who is always exploring innovative ideas, I was completely captivated by this revolutionary technology. I hope our partnership with IMAX will continue and we will find other films, both old titles and new, to bring to audiences in this thrilling manner."

Howard added, "Seeing 'Apollo 13' presented like this, with its clarity of image and staggering dimension, it occurred to me that this is how I had always hoped the film could be seen. I just never imagined that it would become possible less than a decade after we first released it. I give my real appreciation to IMAX not only as a director, but as an audience member. IMAX has truly redefined the experience of movie-going."

Hanks, who stars as astronaut Jim Lovell in "Apollo 13," said "When the test sequences were shown to me, all I could think is 'when can I see more?.' To watch a film this way completely immerses an audience and engages all the senses -- it's not the same as any movie-going experience before it, and in a different universe entirely than watching a film at home. Not to mention, it's not just a little terrifying to see yourself eight stories tall."

IMAX sees "Apollo 13:The IMAX Experience(R)" as the ideal film for its premiere commercial and institutional venues around this world as it bridges both entertainment and education. NASA played a very important role in the success of the original release of "Apollo 13" and is partnered with IMAX on their upcoming 3D release, "SPACE STATION" presented by Lockheed Martin.

Released June 30 1995, "Apollo 13" won Academy Awards for Best Film Editing and Best Sound and was nominated for Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor (Ed Harris), Best Supporting Actress (Kathleen Quinlan), Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Score, Best Art Direction and Best Visual Effects. In addition, Brian Grazer was named Best Motion Picture Producer by the Producers Guild of America and Ron Howard was named Best Motion Picture Director by the Directors Guild of America for the film. The film grossed $353.5 million worldwide.

Universal Pictures is a unit of Universal Studios (http://www.universalstudios.com), a part of CANAL +, the TV and Film division of Vivendi Universal, a new global leader in media and communications.

Founded in 1967, IMAX Corporation is one of the world's leading entertainment technology companies. IMAX's businesses include the world's best cinematic presentations together with IMAX, IMAX 3D and the development of the highest quality digital production and presentation. The IMAX brand is recognized throughout the world for extraordinary and immersive family experiences. As of December 31, 2001, there were more than 225 IMAX theatres operating in 30 countries. More than 700 million people have seen an IMAX presentation since the medium premiered in 1970. IMAX Corporation is a publicly traded company listed on both the Toronto and NASDAQ stock exchanges. IMAX(R) is a registered trademark of IMAX Corporation. More information on the Company can be found at http://www.imax.com.

SOURCE IMAX Corporation, Universal Pictures and Imagine Entertainment

CONTACT:

Media - Victoria Dinnick of IMAX Corporation, Toronto,
+1-905-403-6366, vdinnick@imax.com; or Jeff Sakson of Universal Pictures,
+1-818-777-4791, jeff.sakson@unistudios.com; Analysts - Stephen G. Abraham of
IMAX Corporation, New York, +1-212-821-0140, sabraham@imax.com; or
Entertainment Media - Al Newman of Newman & Company, Los Angeles,
+1-818-784-2130, asn@newman-co.com
/Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020321/NYTH080
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org

URL: http://www.imax.com