September 29, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Leslie Unger - (310) 247-3000
                       lunger@oscars.org

Beverly Hills, CA - In honor of the film's 20th anniversary, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will present a screening of Best Picture nominee "The Big Chill" on Friday, October 10, at 8 p.m., followed by a panel discussion featuring members of the cast and crew. Presented as part of the Academy Standards series, the film earned three Oscar^® nominations in 1983.

Stars Mary Kay Place and Jobeth Williams are confirmed to participate in the event, as are writer/director Lawrence Kasdan and writer Barbara Benedek, who were nominated for the film's original screenplay; producer Michael Shamberg; cinematographer John Bailey and first assistant director Michael Grillo.

In addition to Place and Williams, "The Big Chill" stars Tom Berenger, Glenn Close (who earned a nomination in the supporting actress category), Jeff Goldblum, William Hurt and Kevin Kline as a group of thirty-somethings reunited in order to attend a former classmate's funeral. (That classmate, who appears only under the main titles and from the neck down, was played by Kevin Costner.) The work of the ensemble cast, which also includes Meg Tilly,

is enhanced by the stellar soundtrack featuring Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, The Rascals, Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Three Dog Night, Aretha Franklin, Procol Harum and The Exciters.

The print to be screened is one newly restored, courtesy of Sony Pictures Entertainment.

Tickets for "The Big Chill" 20th anniversary screening are $5 for the general public and $3 for Academy members. They may be purchased in advance beginning October 1 at the Academy during regular business hours, by mail, or on the night of the event, if still available, when the doors open at 7 p.m. The Academy is located at 8949 Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills. For more information, call 310-247-3600.