ScreenSingapore Announces Tom Hanks’ “Larry Crowne” As Closing Night Gala4 min read

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The Board of ScreenSingapore (BOSS) is pleased to announce that “LARRY CROWNE”, the brand new feature film from two-time Academy Award® winner Tom Hanks, who directs, co-writes and co-stars, along with Academy Award® winner Julia Roberts, will be the Closing Night Gala at the inaugural ScreenSingapore on Saturday, June 11.

Tom Hanks will attend this Asia Pacific premiere at the newly refurbished and iconic Shaw Organisation’s Lido Theatre on Orchard Road in the heart of Singapore.

“LARRY CROWNE” is produced by Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman through their production label Playtone and is executive produced by Philippe Rousselet via the Vendome Pictures banner.

Universal Pictures will release “LARRY CROWNE” in North America on July 1, 2011 while Summit Entertainment is overseeing worldwide distribution of the film through their multi -picture deal with Vendome. The Shaw Organisation has acquired the distribution rights for Singapore and will release the film on July 28 this year.

Commenting on the announcement, Vendome’s CEO Philippe Rousselet said,”I am thrilled that “LARRY CROWNE” has been invited to close the first edition of ScreenSingapore. The Asia Pacific, with its 3.6 billion population, is an increasingly important market for companies like Vendome and I am extremely pleased to be able to bring the film and ScreenSingapore together.”

Greg Coote, Chairman of the Board of ScreenSingapore added, “Tom Hanks is one of the most talented, respected and loved filmmakers in the world. It is an honour for all of us at ScreenSingapore to welcome him and the film to Singapore. We are thrilled that Patrick Wachsberger of Summit Entertainment has recognised the commercial importance of the Asia Pacific region by bringing the film to Singapore. We are confident it will be one of the film industry’s events of the year. “

Patrick Wachsberger, Co-Chairman and President of Summit Entertainment LLC and CEO of Summit International, stated,”Summit is very pleased to premiere “LARRY CROWNE” at the inaugural ScreenSingapore. It is the perfect place to launch this exciting film which we know will resonate not only within the Asia Pacific region but also with audiences around the world.”

Mr Aubeck Kam, Chief Executive Officer of MDA, said: “We are very excited that Tom Hanks selected ScreenSingapore as the global launch pad for “LARRY CROWNE”. This not only reaffirms our objective to establish Singapore as a global film hub, but plays an important role in shaping the film industry in the region and beyond. With the support of the major movie studios from the United States and Asia, we look forward to confirming and announcing the rest of the line-up for the Red Carpet Gala Premieres at ScreenSingapore closer to the date.”

“LARRY CROWNE” is a dramatic comedy about how the hard knocks from today’s recession inspire one everyday guy to undergo a personal reinvention. Until he was downsized, affable, amiable Larry Crowne (Hanks) was a superstar team leader at the big-box company where he’s worked since his time in the Navy. Underwater on his mortgage and unclear on what to do with his suddenly free days, Larry heads to his local college to start over. There he becomes part of a colorful community of outcasts, also-rans and the overlooked all trying to find a better future for themselves often moving around town in a herd of scooters. In his public-speaking class, Larry develops an unexpected crush on his teacher Mercedes Tainot (Roberts), who has lost as much passion for teaching as she has for her husband. The simple guy who has every reason to think his life has stalled will come to learn an unexpected lesson: when you think everything worth having has passed you by, you just might discover your reason to live.

To be held from June 5 ““ 12 2011, ScreenSingapore, the first international cinema event in Singapore, aims to bring together movie stars, renowned directors and eminent film industry professionals to exchange ideas, business opportunities and showcase film products. Leveraging on the growing interest in Asian content, the very strong theatrical marketplace and Singapore’s position as a globally connected regional gateway, ScreenSingapore is set to reinforce Singapore as the global media capital of the region.

The Board of ScreenSingapore consists of Latitude Entertainment’s Greg Coote, who is serving as the Chairman of the Board, Aubeck Kam, CEO of MDA, Cassandra Tay, Director of Communications of MDA., Dr Christopher Chia, Senior Advisor, Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts (MICA), multi award winning, Golden Globe nominated Director, Shekhar Kapur, Ashok Amitraj, Chairman & CEO of Hyde Park, Michael J. Werner, Chairman of Fortissimo Films, Wayne Duband of Wayne Duband Consulting and DDA Consulting Chairman, Dennis Davidson.

For more information on ScreenSingapore please visit www.screensingapore.com.sg.