HOLLYWOOD HERE WE COME!

FROM SAFARI MEDIA:

“ABDUCTION” OPENS IN HOLLYWOOD
FILM GOES AFTER ACADEMY AWARD

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

7/12/06


Washington, DC A film that tells the powerful true story of a Japanese girl kidnapped by North Korean spies will be released in theatres next month, starting in Hollywood, California. “ABDUCTION The Megumi Yokota Story”, directed by the husband/wife team of Chris Sheridan and Patty Kim, will begin its theatrical run at the ArcLight Cinemas and will play for one week from August 18-24. The opening in Hollywood is part of a campaign to help the film qualify for an Academy Award.
“This is great not just for the film but for the families whom this story is based on,” said Sheridan. “Hopefully, the Hollywood screenings will bring even more attention to the families and the abduction issue itself.”
“ABDUCTION The Megumi Yokota Story” is a documentary about 13-year-old Megumi who was abducted from Japan and taken to North Korea. Using rarely-seen archival footage and incredible access to her family, the filmmakers bring to life the riveting story of her parents’ 30-year struggle to bring her home.
The film opened at the Slamdance Film Festival in Park City, Utah in January and went on to win the Audience Award for Best Documentary. It has since gone on to win other top honors as well as win over audiences who’ve packed theatres to see it across the US, Canada and Australia. Critics across the board have praised ‘ABDUCTION” calling it, “Exceptional!” (Variety), “Gut-wrenching!” (Sydney Morning Herald) and “Engrossing!” (San Francisco Chronicle).
The Hollywood Premiere in August will be part of the International Documentary Association’s “DocuWeek” program which highlights some of the best documentaries from this year. The program helps those films qualify for Academy Award consideration.
The Executive Producer of “ABDUCTION The Megumi Yokota Story” is Jane Campion, the Oscar-winning director of “The Piano”.
The film is produced in association with the BBC.

For more info, go to www.abductionfilm.com
For media inquiries, contact Yuko Kawabe at kawabe3jp@yahoo.co.jp
For more info on DocuWeek, go to www.documentary.org