..Gary Dretzka
..Noah Forrest
..Leonard Klady
..R.J. Matson
..David Poland
..Douglas Pratt
..Ray Pride
..Michael Wilmington

October 18, 2005

For Immediate Release

GEORGE LUCAS'
"STAR WARS: EPISODE III - REVENGE OF THE SITH"
WINS HOLLYWOOD MOVIE OF THE YEAR AWARD(r)

GEORGE LUCAS WILL BE PRESENTED WITH "HOLLYWOOD MOVIE OF THE YEAR AWARD(r)" AT 9th ANNUAL HOLLYWOOD FILM FESTIVAL(r)

Hollywood, CA - October 18, 2005 -- The Hollywood Film Festival's Board of Advisors has announced that GEORGE LUCAS' "STAR WARS: EPISODE III - REVENGE OF THE SITH" is the winner of this year's "Hollywood Movie of the Year Awards(r)." George Lucas will be presented with the award at the Hollywood Awards Gala Ceremony at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on October 24.

The announcement was made today by Carlos de Abreu, Founder and Executive Director of the festival. "We are very proud that the winner of this year's 'Hollywood Movie of the Year Awards' is George Lucas' film 'Star Wars: Episode III: Revenge of the Sith.' Mr. Lucas is a creative genius, a visionary at its best," said Mr. de Abreu.

The "Hollywood Movie of the Year Awards(r)" winner is chosen by the public voting online for their favorite movies at the Yahoo Movies (movies.yahoo.com) and "Entertainment Tonight" (ETonline.com) websites. The sites received over 20 million impressions, and more than 70,000 people cast their votes for their favorite movies. This year's nominees for the award were: "Batman Begins," "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," "Cinderella Man," "The Constant Gardener," "Crash," "Hustle and Flow," "Sin City," "Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith," "Wedding Crashers," and "War of the Worlds." "Star Wars: Episode III: Revenge of the Sith" received nearly one-third of the votes cast, "Batman Begins," was second-highest in the voting, and "War of the Worlds" was the number three favorite of the public.

"STAR WARS: EPISODE III - REVENGE OF THE SITH," is the sixth in the most popular and successful franchise in film history. Covering a span of 28 years, the films have grossed more than $4 billion worldwide. The film was written and directed by George Lucas, and its cast includes Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Hayden Christensen, Ian McDiarmid, Samuel L. Jackson, Jimmy Smits, Frank Oz (the voice of Yoda), Anthony Daniels, and Christopher Lee.

The 2005 Annual Hollywood Film Festival will take place from October 18 to 24. The festival's screenings take place at ArcLight Theatres in Hollywood, and its Hollywood Awards Gala Ceremony will be held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Monday, October 24.

This year's industry professionals who will be honored for their achievements at the Hollywood Awards Gala Ceremony include Diane Keaton for career achievement, Lions Gate Films Releasing president Tom Ortenberg for leadership, Librarian of Congress Dr. James Billington for film preservation, Sam Mendes for directing, Douglas Wick and Lucy Fisher for producing, Joaquin Phoenix, Charlize Theron, Matthew Broderick, and Susan Sarandon for acting, the cast of "Crash" for ensemble acting, Akiva Goldsman for screenwriting, "Howl's Moving Castle" for animation, Pawel Edelman for cinematography, Walter Murch for editing, Grant Major for production design, Harry Gregson-Williams for film composing, Dennis Muren for visual effects, Colleen Atwood for costume design, "Batman Begins" for sound, Gregory Nicotero for make-up, and Avy Kaufman for casting. In addition, Jake Gyllenhaal and Rachel McAdams will be honored with the festival's Breakthrough Actor and Actress awards, and Paul Haggis with the "Hollywood Breakthrough Director of the Year Award."

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