Aaron Eckhart Received The 2007 Ray-Ban Visionary Award at the Sundance Film Festival

Aaron Eckhart Received The 2007 Ray-Ban Visionary Award at the Sundance Film Festival

Josh Hartnett Presented Aaron Eckhart with the Ray-Ban Visionary Award

Exclusive Live Performance by The All-American Rejects

PARK CITY, Utah, Jan. 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Aaron Eckhart was honored with the 2007 Ray-Ban Visionary Award on Sunday, January 21, 2007 in Park City, Utah, at Harry O's. The evening was presented by Vittorio Verdun, Vice President of Marketing for Luxottica Group US and Robin Bronk, Executive Director of The Creative Coalition. The event concluded with a special musical performance by hot, young, breakout artists The All-American Rejects.

The Ray-Ban Visionary Award, established in 2003, honors the work and dedication of an individual who possesses extraordinary passion, creativity and leadership, and whose work showcases vision, imagination and originality. Previous award winners include Matt Dillon and Kevin Bacon, Colin Callender (President of HBO Films) and Mark Ordesky (EVP/COO New Line Productions and President of Fine Line Features).

Antonio Miyakawa, Executive Vice President of Luxottica Group said: "We are proud to be, thanks to this Award and to our partnership with The Sundance Film Festival, a genuine supporter of visionary talents in the independent film industry. We are honored to have Aaron accepting this Award since he truly embodies those same values of courage, independent thinking and irony of our brand Ray-Ban."

Aaron Eckhart, a great performer capable of transforming himself as the role requires, starred in Brian De Palma's "The Black Dahlia" (2006). He was also gleefully provocative in "Thank You for Smoking" (2006), playing a spokesman and lobbyist for Big Tobacco who spins and schemes his way through a maze of overzealous health advocates and opportunistic politicians while defending the rights of smokers. Eckhart's brash performance in Jason Reitman's satire earned him a Best Actor nomination for the 2007 Golden Globes. "I'm thrilled to receive the Ray-Ban Visionary Award which supports the talent of all those artists who believe in independent, genuine, visionary film making," says Eckhart.

Eckhart also starred in "Conversations with Other Women" (2006), "Suspect Zero" (2004), "Paycheck" (2003), "The Missing" (2003), "The Core" (2003), "Possession" (2002), "The Pledge" (2001), "Erin Brockovich" (2000), "Nurse Betty" (also 2000), "Molly" (1999) and "In the Company of Men" (1997).

The All-American Rejects, with two platinum albums under their belt and a series of hit singles, have brought their finely crafted mix of rock/pop/mayhem to the next level & beyond. "Dirty Little Secret", "Move Along" and now "It Ends Tonight" -- all off the Move Along album -- have catapulted the band into a household name & thrilled millions of fans.

About Ray-Ban:

Beginning in 1937 with the early Aviator style, the introduction of other classics such as the Wayfarer in 1952 and continuing today, Ray-Ban is a brand that embodies America and adventure, great cities and wide-open spaces, heroism, individuality and authenticity. Ray-Ban is the world's best known eyewear brand and global leader in its sector. All models in the Ray-Ban collections are products of meticulous, original styling that translates the best of the latest fashion trends into an ever-contemporary look for millions of Ray-Ban wearers around the world. Introduced to the silver screen in 1961, the unique Ray-Ban lifestyle is embodied in its collections, reflected throughout hundreds of films, and remains the choice eyewear brand of celebrities both in real life and in films. For further information: www.ray-ban.com

About The Creative Coalition:

The Creative Coalition is the leading nonprofit, nonpartisan social and public advocacy organization of the arts and entertainment community. Founded in 1989 by prominent members of the creative community, The Creative Coalition is dedicated to educating and mobilizing its members on issues of public importance, primarily public education, the First Amendment, arts advocacy, and runaway production. Headquartered in New York City, The Creative Coalition also has offices in Washington, DC, Los Angeles and San Francisco. The Creative Coalition does not endorse or raise funds for political parties or candidates. For further information: www.thecreativecoalition.org

About Luxottica Group S.p.A.:

Luxottica Group is a global leader in eyewear, with nearly 5,700 optical and sun retail stores in North America, Asia-Pacific, China and Europe and a strong brand portfolio that includes Ray-Ban, the best selling sun and prescription eyewear brand in the world, as well as, among others, license brands Bvlgari, Burberry, Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana, Donna Karan, Prada, Versace and Polo Ralph Lauren, from January 2007, and key house brands Vogue, Persol, Arnette and REVO. In addition to a global wholesale network that touches 130 countries, the Group manages leading retail brands such as LensCrafters and Pearle Vision in North America, OPSM and Laubman & Pank in Asia-Pacific, and Sunglass Hut globally. The Group's products are designed and manufactured in six Italy-based high-quality manufacturing plants and in the only two China- based plants wholly-owned by a premium eyewear manufacturer. For fiscal year 2005, Luxottica Group (NYSE: LUX; MTA: LUX) posted consolidated net sales of euro4.4 billion. Additional information on the Group is available at www.luxottica.com

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact: egoldman@rogersandcowan.com

Source: Luxottica Group S.p.A.

CONTACT: Elissa Goldman, +1-212-445-8447

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