Lionsgate, Crest Launch Multi-Picture Partnership

SANTA MONICA, April 3:
Lionsgate and Crest Animation Productions are kicking off their multi-picture
partnership with the CGI-animated family film Alpha and Omega, which is scheduled for a theatrical release in
2010.

Lionsgate and Crest are
co-financing and co-producing Alpha and Omega, which stars Justin Long and Hayden Panettiere (Heroes) in the primary roles. The cast also includes
Christina Ricci, Danny Glover, Dennis Hopper and Larry Miller. Alpha and
Omega is the story of two
bickering wolves, one a disciplined, Alpha-bred wolf played by Panettiere, and
the other a fun-loving, comical Omega wolf, played by Long, who are captured
and taken thousands of miles from their home. Determined to rejoin their pack,
the two mismatched wolves begin a dangerous trek across unfamiliar terrain,
battling the odds, the elements, the bears and one another—and finding
love along the way.

Alpha and Omega is currently in production, with pre- and
post-production taking place in Los Angeles and key animation at Crest
Animation Studios in India. Lionsgate will distribute the film in North America
and the U.K. Mandate International will be launching international sales at the
upcoming Cannes Film Festival for the rest of the world, excluding India.

The film is directed by
Anthony Bell (The Boondocks, Rugrats) and Ben Gluck (Brother Bear 2). Chris Denk wrote the screenplay based on an
original story by Steve Moore (co-creator of Open Season). Ken Katsumoto is producing for Lionsgate, and
Richard Rich is producing for Crest. The executive producers are Noah Fogelson,
the CEO of Crest Animation Productions, Seemha Ramanna, the managing director
and co-founder of Crest Animation Studios, and A.K. Madhavan, the CEO of Crest
Animation Studios.

"We are very excited
to be working with Crest, one of the world's finest CG animation producers,”
said Lionsgate’s Katsumoto. “Everyone at Crest is passionate about creating
high-quality animated family entertainment, and that commitment is reflected in
Alpha and Omega. This is a
classic journey film in the vein of Finding Nemo and The Lion King, filled with all manner of richly imagined
particulars. And why not begin a
partnership with a movie about wolves, one of nature's most cohesive social
units?"

Added Crest Animation
Productions’ Fogelson, "We are thrilled to be in business with Lionsgate,
a company that is continually innovating in terms of both production and
marketing. We are looking forward to a fruitful collaboration and feel we are
off to a great start with Alpha and Omega. We have a wonderfully talented cast and an outstanding team of
filmmakers led by Anthony Bell and Ben Gluck, who truly understand the art and
craft of animated storytelling."

—By Irene Lew