HBO Films and Charter Communications Bring Hollywood to Warm Springs, Georgia With Premiere of HBO Films' WARM SPRINGS

HBO Films and Charter Communications Bring Hollywood to Warm Springs, Georgia With Premiere of HBO Films' WARM SPRINGS

EVENT IS PRESENTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ROOSEVELT WARM SPRINGS INSTITUTE FOR REHABILITATION

Executive Producer Celia Costas, Screenwriter Margaret Nagle and Producer Chrisann Verges Are Scheduled To Attend

WARM SPRINGS, Ga., April 4 /PRNewswire/ -- HBO Films and Charter Communications will partner with the Roosevelt Warm Springs Institute for Rehabilitation for an invitation-only premiere of WARM SPRINGS. The intimate HBO Films drama tells the riveting story of Franklin Delano Roosevelt's struggle with polio and his treatment in Warm Springs. The premiere will be held at the Roosevelt Warm Springs Institute for Rehabilitation, 6135 Roosevelt Highway in Warm Springs, on Tuesday, April 12 at 6:30 P.M. WARM SPRINGS was filmed in its entirety in Georgia.

Attending the Warm Springs, Georgia premiere will be the film's executive producer, Celia Costas; screenwriter, Margaret Nagle; and producer, Chrisann Verges. The evening will begin with a cocktail buffet at 6:30 p.m. in Georgia Hall, followed by the screening in Roosevelt Auditorium at 8:00 p.m., and coffee and dessert at 10:15 p.m. in Georgia Hall.

Starring Kenneth Branagh (Emmy(R) winner for HBO's "Conspiracy") and Cynthia Nixon (Emmy(R) winner for HBO's "Sex and the City"), the film follows Franklin Delano Roosevelt, left a paraplegic from polio at age 39, as he seeks out a miracle cure in the backwoods of rural Georgia. There he encounters the lives of those affected not only by disability, but also by poverty, illiteracy and racism. In time he comes to learn that though he may never walk again, he can still lead. In Warm Springs, a future four-term American president finds his personal and political soul.

Directed by multiple Emmy(R) winner Joseph Sargent (HBO's Emmy(R)-winning "Something the Lord Made") from a script by Margaret Nagle, the film also stars Jane Alexander (Emmy(R) winner for "Playing for Time"), Kathy Bates (Oscar(R) winner for "Misery"), Tim Blake Nelson ("O Brother Where Art Thou?") and David Paymer (Oscar(R) nominee for "Mister Saturday Night").

Founded as a polio treatment center by Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1927, the Roosevelt Warm Springs Institute today is an internationally known, comprehensive rehabilitation center specializing in both medical and vocational rehabilitation and serving 6,000 clients annually.

"The combination of Franklin Roosevelt and Warm Springs was one of those rare moments in history when the man made the place, but the place also made the man," said Frank Ruzycki, executive director of the Institute. "We are so happy that HBO decided to tell this story. It's a story that we are justifiably proud of and a mission that continues today at the Roosevelt Warm Springs Institute for Rehabilitation. Like FDR, we are still 'empowering individuals with disabilities to achieve personal independence.'"

Celia Costas (executive producer) produced HBO's "Angels in America," which won 11 Emmys(R), including Miniseries. She also produced HBO's "For Love or Country: The Arturo Sandoval Story," which received an Emmy(R) nomination for TV movie. Costas' feature film production credits include "Zoolander," "28 Days," "Meet Joe Black" and "Private Parts," and she served as production manager on "Night Falls on Manhattan," "The Pelican Brief," "Glengarry Glen Ross" and "Presumed Innocent." Costas executive produced Mike Nichols' latest film, "Closer."

WARM SPRINGS is Margaret Nagle's first screenplay. A former actress ("My So-Called Life"), she is also the writer of "The Lost Boys of Sudan," with Brad Silberling directing at Paramount. Currently, she is writing "Dickey Chapelle," about the famed war photographer, for actress Jennifer Aniston, with Brad Pitt and Brad Grey to produce.

Chrisann Verges (producer) produced the upcoming "Mrs. Harris," starring Annette Bening and Ben Kingsley, for HBO Films. She also served as production manager on HBO Films' "Dinner with Friends." Verges' other credits include "Joe Gould's Secret" (executive producer), "The Gilmore Girls" pilot (producer), "Washington Square" (associate producer) and "Fresh" (co- producer). She has also worked as production manager on "Calendar Girl," "Flash," "Bed of Roses" and "The Jerky Boys."

Debuting SATURDAY, APRIL 30 (8:00 p.m. ET/8:30 p.m. PT), WARM SPRINGS is executive produced by Academy Award(R)-nominated producer Mark Gordon ("Saving Private Ryan") and Celia Costas (HBO's "Angels in America") and produced by Chrisann Verges ("Joe Gould's Secret"). HBO Films executive vice president Keri Putnam and director of development Elaine Chin are the executives in charge of production.

Charter Communications, Inc., a broadband communications company, provides a full range of advanced broadband services to the home, including cable television on an advanced digital video programming platform via Charter Digital (TM) and Charter High-Speed (TM) Internet service. Charter also provides business-to-business video, data and Internet protocol (IP) solutions through Charter Business (TM).

Academy Award(R) and Oscar(R) are registered trademarks and service marks of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Source: HBO

CONTACT: Diane Larche of HBO, +1-404-273-3227, or dlarchepr@aol.com

Web site: http://www.hbo.com/

-------
Profile: intent