Academy Award Winner Holly Hunter Joins Ensemble Cast of Mike Figgis' ``Time Code 2000''.

LOS ANGELES--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--Nov. 15, 1999--

Academy Award(R) winner Holly Hunter ("The Piano") has joined the ensemble cast of Mike Figgis' "Time Code 2000."

One of the most intriguing actresses of our time, Hunter received an Academy Award(R) for her performance as a mute Scottish widow in Jane Campion's "The Piano," as well as a Golden Globe and Best Actress Award at the 1993 Cannes Film Festival and numerous film critics prizes.

That same year, she also received an Academy Award(R) nomination for her performance as an investigative secretary in "The Firm," and in 1987, she was nominated for an Academy Award(R) for her portrayal of a driven producer in "Broadcast News."

"Time Code 2000" is a black comedy thriller set in Los Angeles and shot entirely on Digital Video. The film is written and directed by Figgis and produced under his Red Mullet banner.

This innovative new film project will be shot entirely with hand-held Digital Video cameras in sequence, in 90 minutes and without editing. "The concept for this film was a really quick genesis. I am terribly excited about the challenge of ushering in the next century with an innovative piece of filmmaking," said Figgis.

The film's plot will literally unfold before the cameras as the actors each forge an improvised trajectory for their characters based on the central elements of an affair, a murder and an ensuing Hollywood mystery. The cast includes Saffron Burrows ("Deep Blue Sea," "Miss Julie"), Salma Hayek ("Wild Wild West"), Stellan Skarsgard ("Good Will Hunting," "Breaking the Waves") and Jeanne Tripplehorn ("The Firm," "Basic Instinct") in leading roles.

In addition, a large eclectic ensemble of actors including Xander Berkeley, Golden Brooks, Viveka Davis, Richard Edson, Aimee Graham, Andrew Heckler, Holly Houston, Danny Huston, Patrick Kearney, Elizabeth Low, Daphna Kastner, Kyle MacLachlan, Mia Maestro, Leslie Mann, Laurie Metcalfe, Suzi Nakamura, Alessandro Nivola, Zuleikha Robinson, Julian Sands and Steven Weber also star.

Figgis used hand-held cameras to edgy effect on his Academy Award-winning "Leaving Las Vegas," and most recently has received acclaim for his intense screen interpretation of August Strindberg's "Miss Julie," to be released in December. His other credits include "The Loss of Sexual Innocence," "One Night Stand" and "Internal Affairs." "Time Code" will be distributed by Columbia Pictures.