Geoffrey Canada Endorses THE KING’S SPEECH PG-13

Academy Award® Best Picture Winner THE KING’S SPEECH Is Now The Family Event Of The Year

The Weinstein Company Implements Youth Education Initiative
As THE KING’S SPEECH PG-13 Is Now In Theaters Nationwide

New York, NY, April 2011 – Geoffrey Canada endorses THE KING’S SPEECH PG-13, which opened nationwide this past weekend. Canada, president of Harlem Children’s Zone, went on record at the time of the MPAA hearing for Academy Award^® Best Picture winner THE KING’S SPEECH, in support of making the film accessible to a broader and younger audience. Last week he spoke out about the benefits of the new release of the film. Canada, is the first major educator to publicly support THE KING’S SPEECH.

Canada said: “I feel that if young people can see the King of England struggle and ultimately overcome his personal challenges, it will help open them up to the rewards of hard work and persistence. I believe the film’s uplifting message and teachable moments far outweigh its minor use of vulgarities.”

The Weinstein Company (TWC) released THE KING’S SPEECH PG-13, the family-friendly version of its Academy Award-winning historical drama about King George VI, on 1,000 screens nationwide on April 1^st. It’s the only version available in theatres.

In conjunction with the film’s release, TWC has collaborated with Young Minds Inspired (YMI) to provide a free education program for parents and educators. The program is designed to challenge students to examine the influences in their lives and encourage critical thinking using primary sources, in order to strengthen communication skills.

Canada added: “I know firsthand that the arts can teach children lasting lessons about life and have an immensely positive influence on how they develop into adults.”

Academy Award^® winning director Tom Hooper responded: “The film tells a story that touches on so many issues related to childhood. There has already been an overwhelming response from children in the UK, who have positively connected to King George VI’s courageous and inspiring story. We are all very grateful to now have the opportunity to bring THE KING’S SPEECH to a family audience in the US.”

One of the year’s most celebrated, successful and beloved films, THE KING’S SPEECH was honored at the 83rd Academy Awards^® with Oscars^® for Best Picture, producers Iain Canning, Emile Sherman and Gareth Unwin; Best Director, helmer Tom Hooper; Best Actor, Colin Firth; and Best Original Screenplay, David Seidler.

To learn more about THE KING’S SPEECH PG-13 education initiative go to: www.kingsspeech.com

ABOUT THE WEINSTEIN COMPANY

The Weinstein Company (TWC) is a multimedia production and distribution company launched in October 2005 by Bob and Harvey Weinstein, the brothers who founded Miramax Films in 1979. TWC also encompasses Dimension Films, the genre label founded in 1993 by Bob Weinstein, which has released such popular franchises as SCREAM, SPY KIDS and SCARY MOVIE.  Together TWC and Dimension Films have released a broad range of mainstream, genre and specialty films that have been commercial and critical successes, most recently Tom Hooper’s THE KING’S SPEECH, winner of four 2011 Academy Awards^®, including Best Picture; Derek Cianfrance’s Academy Award^®-nominated BLUE VALENTINE; and John Wells’ feature directorial debut, THE COMPANY MEN.  Since 2005, TWC and Dimension Films have released such films as GRINDHOUSE; I’M NOT THERE; THE GREAT DEBATERS; VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA; THE READER; THE ROAD;  HALLOWEEN; THE PAT TILLMAN STORY; PIRANHA 3D; INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS; A SINGLE MAN; and 2011 Golden Globe^® Best Foreign Language Film nominee THE CONCERT. Upcoming releases include MIRAL, SPY KIDS 4, SCREAM 4, APOLLO 18, DIRTY GIRL, SUBMARINE, OUR IDIOT BROTHER, THE DETAILS, CORIOLANUS, MY WEEK WITH MARILYN and SO UNDERCOVER.   Recently wrapping is I DON’T KNOW HOW SHE DOES IT.  Currently in production is COGAN’S TRADE.

TWC is also active in television production, with credits including the Emmy^® Award-winning hit reality series “Project Runway,” and the critically acclaimed HBO comedy/crime series “The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency.” The company is producing two “Project Runway” spinoffs, “Project Runway: Masters” and “Project Runway: Accessories,” which are expected to debut in 2011.  The company currently has 15 series in different stages of development, including: “Mob Wives,” a reality series for VH1; “Marco Polo,” a scripted historical series about the great explorer; “The Nanny Diaries,” based on the hit book; and “The Mad Ones,” adapted from the Mafia novel of the same name.