LEADING DIRECTORS AND A-LIST CAST JOIN FORCES TO SHOW LOVE FOR NEW YORK CITY

Acclaimed Directors and Actors Commit To Feature Film NEW YORK, I LOVE YOU

New York, NY (April 12, 2007) - It was announced today that a group of the of the world’s most talented and esteemed directors have teamed up to direct a ground-breaking feature film, NEW YORK, I LOVE YOU. Twelve separate segments will comprise this new feature film, which is being produced by Emmanuel Benbihy (Paris, je t’aime) and Marina Grasic (Crash, Smart People) with the cooperation of Marianne Maddalena (Scream, Red Eye). Featuring an unprecedented A-list cast, NEW YORK, I LOVE YOU follows the successful feature film, Paris, je t’aime. Production began in March .

Faith Akin, Yvan Attal, Alan Hughes, Shunji Iwai, Scarlett Johansson, Shekhar Kapur, Joshua Martson, Mira Nair, Natalie Portman, Brett Ratner, Jiang Wen and Andrey Zvyaginstev have all signed on to direct segments of the film illustrating the universal theme of encountering love within the five boroughs of New York City. The cast of NEW YORK, I LOVE YOU will be comprised of a large number of American A-list actors mixed with prominent foreign talent. Among the initial cast confirmed for the picture are Carlos Acosta, Kevin Bacon, Justin Bartha, Rachel Bilson, James Caan, Hayden Christiansen, Bradley Cooper, Chris Cooper, Drea de Matteo, Ethan Hawke, Irrfan Khan, Cloris Leachman, Blake Lively, Emilie Ohana, Natalie Portman, Maggie Q, Shu Qi, Olivia Thirlby, Eli Wallach, Saul Williams, Robin Wright-Penn, Anton Yelchin and Ugur Yücel. Additional talent will be announced at a later date.

Commented Benbihy, “New York, I Love You is a unique and collective film that breaks the usual conventions and habits of cinematic storytelling as it explores new modes of narration around love and the celebration of love.”

“New York, I Love You is a true testament to one of the greatest cities in the world,” added Marina Grasic. “I am personally honored to work with such an esteemed cast and some of the foremost filmmakers in the world.”

Emmanuel Benbihy added, “In recent years we have witnessed the rise of a movement that has questioned classic narrative styles. The unities of place and action are shattered, points of view multiplied, chronology fragmented and interwoven, reality is broken up depending on the varying perceptions of the main characters. As we have seen in Magnolia, Crash, Amores Perros, Requiem for a Dream, etc., audiences have reacted very strongly to this way of storytelling. Deconstructed narratives are closer to our experience of life; the diversity of directors is the guarantee of multiple perspectives.”

Marina Grasic adds, “New York, I Love You will be dedicated to Anthony Minghella, who passed away last month and was attached to direct a segment.”

In NEW YORK, I LOVE YOU, the 12 segments will be connected together via transitional linking sequences. New York City is the main unifying character and the Film will show the city as a living, breathing and loving whole. In the end, the audience will not only understand each individual story, but they will also see the integrated whole of chance encounters through these unique transitions.

NYC & Company, the official marketing and tourism organization for the City of New York, has pledged their support for the film New York, I Love You as it showcases the beauty and romance of all five boroughs to audiences worldwide.

New York, I Love You is produced in association with Sherazade Films and Benaroya Pictures, Visitor Pictures and Cities Of Love. International distribution will be handled by QED International. The production services in New York is being handled by Plum Pictures.

About “Cities of Love” The “Cities of Love” franchise deals with love encounters around the world. It deals with human beings on all continents and promotes love between people above all differences. Its main concern is to share emotions through the universality of love. Each of the films in the franchise is based on diversity and cosmopolitanism.

The “Cities of Love” concept is markedly different from the genre known as the ‘anthology film’: The ambition is to build a new format that will develop a new approach to the short movie industry and open new perspectives in the field of education. After New York, the franchise will head to Shanghai then South America, before making its way to Africa.

Based on an original idea by Tristan Carné, the feature-film concept and franchise were created by Emmanuel Benbihy. “Cities of Love” is being developed by Ever So Close, Inc. whose Managing Partners include CEO Emmanuel Benbihy; Vice-President, Pierre Asséo; and Vice-President, Laurent Constanty.

About QED International: QED is a Beverly Hills based independent film company that represents theatrical motion picture projects for sales and distribution in the worldwide marketplace. The company also acquires, develops, finances and produces its own motion pictures, either independently or in partnership with major studios, talent, and key foreign distributors.

QED Managing Partners include CEO, Bill Block; Senior Vice President, Worldwide Sales & Distribution, Kimberly Fox; Chief Operating Officer, Paul Hanson; and Vice President of Production, Elliot Ferwerda.

About NYC & Company: NYC & Company is the official marketing and tourism organization for the City of New York, dedicated to maximizing travel and tourism opportunities throughout the five boroughs, building economic prosperity and spreading the positive image of New York City worldwide.