SHARKS 3D, a Breathtaking New 3D IMAX Film Presented by Jean-Michel Cousteau, Premieres January 20th at the Cinemark IMAX Theatre in Dallas, TX

SHARKS 3D, a Breathtaking New 3D IMAX Film Presented by Jean-Michel Cousteau, Premieres January 20th at the Cinemark IMAX Theatre in Dallas, TX

Come closer than you've ever dared to one of nature's most sophisticated yet endangered predators with the first-ever shark-themed IMAX film shot in 3D. Take the plunge at Cinemark 17's IMAX Theatre in Dallas and get ready for a close encounter with the Lions and Tigers of the Ocean.

DALLAS, Jan. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Cinemark USA, Jean-Michel Cousteau and 3D Entertainment, in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme, invite audiences to a stunning immersive diving experience with SHARKS 3D, the first-ever shark-themed 3D IMAX theatre film, premiering Friday, January 20th at the Cinemark 17 IMAX Theatre in Dallas (TX). Join the expert international team of ocean explorers that brought you OCEAN WONDERLAND on this unique round-the-globe expedition documenting the life of the ultimate predator.

The media are invited to attend a special screening of SHARKS 3D on January 11th at 2:00 p.m. and visit the educational exhibit "Sharks: Predators as Prey" at the Cinemark 17's IMAX Theatre at 11819 Webb Chapel Road in Dallas. Director of photography Gavin McKinney will present the film and will be available for one-on-one interviews immediately following the screening.

Phone interviews with ocean explorer Jean-Michel Cousteau, the film's ambassador, may also be done the same day if scheduled in advance.

"I am very pleased that Dallas-area residents will now get the chance to share in this truly memorable encounter with the world's great shark species, such as the Great White, Whale Shark and Hammerhead," said Jean-Michel Cousteau, President of Ocean Futures Society. "Watching SHARKS 3D is like pulling on a diving suit and swimming weightlessly with sharks all around. If you've ever wanted to know what it's really like to dive with sharks, this film is certainly a must-see. You can witness them as they truly are in their natural habitat -- not wicked man-eating creatures, as they are far too frequently depicted in modern feature films, but wild, fascinating and highly endangered animals that have been in existence since a million years before the dinosaurs."

"Despite the existence of various international treaties, certain shark species have been reduced by nearly 80% in the past decade alone. Today, the priority is not only to end the steady decline of the shark population, but to rehabilitate its image among the general public," said UNEP's Executive Director, Klaus Toepfer. "We believe that this outstanding IMAX theatre film is an ideal means of reaching a vast audience and changing a great number of people's perception of these animals."

"The film's purpose is to lead people to think differently and positively about sharks. As many fellow conservationists have stated before, we protect only what we love. Therefore, we first need to understand what sharks are really like before there can be a change in public perception. Then perhaps we will begin to protect them," said director Jean-Jacques Mantello.

Located at 11819 Webb Chapel Road in Dallas, the Cinemark IMAX Theatre brings SHARKS 3D to life in grand fashion, offering a unique 3D experience from each of its 257 stadium-style seats with high-definition images projected onto the huge, eight story-tall screen and 12,000 watts of pure digital surround sound. For information on tickets and showtimes, please call 1-800-Fandango, Express Code 1141, or visit the website at www.cinemark.com. Group tickets can be obtained by calling 1-800-Cinemark or by email at groupsales407@cinemark.com.

Principal photography on SHARKS 3D required an extensive nine-month shoot totaling 500 dive hours. The film was shot on location in Guadalupe Island, Socorro Island, Revillagigedos and the Sea of Cortez (Mexico), Malpelo Island (Colombia), the Red Sea (Egypt), Sodwana Bay (South Africa), Inhambane (Mozambique), San Diego (USA) and Rangiroa Atoll (French Polynesia).

SHARKS 3D is produced by 3D Entertainment and McKinney Underwater Productions Inc. Directed by Jean-Jacques Mantello, filmed by Gavin McKinney and executive produced by Francois Mantello, SHARKS 3D features an original score composed by Christophe Jacquelin. SHARKS 3D is distributed worldwide by 3D Entertainment in collaboration with the UNEP.

For a full list of IMAX theatres showing SHARKS 3D, please go to http://www.sharks3d.com/

SHARKS 3D is recommended for general audiences.
Official website: http://www.sharks3d.com/

About 3D Entertainment:

Based in London (UK), 3D Entertainment Ltd. (3DE) is specialized in the production and distribution of marine conservation and environmental-themed films specifically for the worldwide network of IMAX theatres. The company's mission is to immerse audiences in unique underwater experiences that inspire and educate. 3DE's first documentary, OCEAN WONDERLAND 3D, released in February 2003 and shot in Australia and the Bahamas, sheds light on the crucial function of the endangered but magical world of coral reefs. It has been seen by over 4.5 million viewers to date and continues to enjoy tremendous success. The company enjoys a strategic alliance with McKinney Underwater Productions and Studio Helios XIV.

About Cinemark USA, Inc. and The Cinemark IMAX Theatre:

Cinemark USA, Inc., a leader in the theatre exhibition industry operates 309 theatres and 3339 screens in 33 states in the United States and internationally in 13 countries, mainly in Mexico, South and Central America. The Cinemark IMAX Theatre in Dallas is one of 6 IMAX theatres that have been built by Cinemark USA worldwide. Other Cinemark IMAX Theatres are located in Colorado Springs, CO; Rochester, NY; Tarentum, PA (Pittsburgh area); Tulsa, OK and Woodridge, IL (Chicago area). True stadium seating, wall-to-wall screens and digital sound are all hallmarks of a Cinemark theatre. Cinemark was also among the first theatre exhibitors to offer advanced real-time internet ticketing at its own website.

IMAX is a registered trademark of IMAX Corporation

Source: 3D Entertainment; Cinemark USA

CONTACT: Terrell E. Falk, +1-972-665-1087, tfalk@cinemark.com, or Frank
Gonzales, +1-214-850-1208, fgonzales@cinemark.com, both of Cinemark USA; or
Julien Bollee of 3D Entertainment, +1-800-819-7753, jbollee@3DEfilms.com

Web site: http://www.sharks3d.com/
http://www.cinemark.com/

NOTE TO EDITORS: High-resolution images can be downloaded from the following PDF document available at http://www.sharks3D.com/stills.pdf . Production notes can be downloaded at http://www.sharks3D.com/production_notes.pdf

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