A Fireman's Fund Insured Will Definitely Win the Best Picture Oscar.

NOVATO, Calif. -- No matter what movie wins the Academy Award Oscar for Best Film this month -- whether it's THE AVIATOR, FINDING NEVERLAND, MILLION DOLLAR BABY, RAY or SIDEWAYS -- the winning production will have been insured with Fireman's Fund Insurance Company.

"That's not surprising because Fireman's Fund insured 16 contending films which together garnered 61 of the 113 nominations in all categories," said Lauren Bailey, head of the entertainment unit for Fireman's Fund. "In fact, our insureds captured all five nominations for Best Film, Best Lead Actor, Best Supporting Actor as well as four-out-of-five for Best Director and Best Supporting Actress."

Fireman's Fund is first choice of major studios needing a package of specialized entertainment insurance for such exposures as cast coverage, props-wardrobe and set coverage, business interruption, faulty film stock, and property and casualty coverages.

"Without insurance, motion pictures as we know them today would be impossible to make, especially when a simple loss could easily cost as much as $500,000 a day," said Bailey. "Fireman's Fund is comfortable with that kind of risk because we've been the top insurer of the entertainment industry since the days of the Silent Screen. Back in those days, all that Hollywood needed was protection against fire damage to sets and props. Today we provide a full range of sophisticated insurance coverage -- including the latest in special effects -- for a modern blockbuster."

Fireman's Fund is a premier property and casualty insurance company providing personal, commercial, marine, excess and surplus lines and agribusiness insurance products nationwide. Fireman's Fund is a subsidiary of Allianz AG, one of the world's largest providers of property and casualty insurance and other financial services. More information about the company is available at www.firemansfund.com.