Artisan Home Entertainment Proudly Presents the DVD Release of the Most Critically Acclaimed Independent Film of the Year: ``Requiem for a Dream''.

Entertainment Editors

SANTA MONICA, Calif.--(ENTERTAINMENT WIRE)--May 8, 2001

Artisan Home Entertainment:

"Director's Cut" DVD available May 22;

Special Features Include:

-- Audio Commentary by Highly Acclaimed Director Darren Aronofsky and by
Director of Cinematography Matthew Libatique;

-- "The Making of Requiem for a Dream" Documentary and Nine Deleted Scenes with
Optional Director Commentary;

-- Conversation With Film Star Ellen Burstyn, nominated for Best Actress for
the 2001 Academy Awards

On May 22, 2001, Artisan Home Entertainment is proud to present the "Director's Cut" DVD release of "Requiem for a Dream," one of the most extraordinary and impressive independent films of the year.

Critically acclaimed director Darren Aronofsky has put the same level of intense detail and passion into the digitally mastered DVD as he did into the theatrical release. This "Director's Cut" edition DVD is packed with special features, including an inspiring audio commentary on the film by Aronofsky and an insightful commentary by award-winning director of cinematography Matthew Libatique. Also included are nine deleted scenes with optional director commentary. Amoeba Proteus, a special effects company in which Aronofsky is a partner, designed the DVD and menus.

In addition, the DVD features a documentary narrated by Aronofsky giving the audience a captivating behind-the-scenes look at the "The Making of Requiem for a Dream." Highlights in this documentary show how Libatique created his incredible cinematography; the extraordinary and intense physical transformation of Ellen Burstyn; the making of Jared Leto's hideously infected arm; and the unforgettable amputation.

Aronofsky's clever and innovative menus maintain and expand on the film's Tappy Tibbons character (Christopher McDonald) and the television show that he hosts in the film. The DVD contains the autobiographical back story of Tibbon's life, giving more insight into his character. Other unique features include "The Anatomy of a Scene," a featurette with Aronofsky that appeared on the IFC Channel, in which he explains how a scene is broken down, and "Memories, Dreams and Addictions," a fascinating conversation between Hubert Selby Jr., the author of the novel on which this film is based, and Ellen Burstyn.

Each DVD comes with a special collectable 16-page insert that unfolds into a "mini poster" with images of the characters and quotes from Hubert Selby Jr.'s novel. The film is presented in a 16:9 widescreen version, 5.1 digital audio, English closed-captioning and also includes other extras such as theatrical trailers and TV spots, cast and crew information, production notes, scene access and interactive menus.

"Not only is `Requiem for a Dream' a remarkable film, but the DVD version is even more compelling, and all because of the tremendous amount of creativity, artistry and detail that Darren has poured into the project. It is rare to work with a director who is so intimately involved on so many levels of the creative process," said Glenn Ross, president of FHE and executive vice president of Artisan Home Entertainment. "We expect this to be a classic DVD in the vein of `Fight Club' and `T2.'"

"The DVD gives the audience a deeper sense of the cast and crew's intense passion and dedication needed to bring this vision to life," said Aronofsky. "The DVD format is an amazing forum that gives filmmakers the opportunity to show the details of their storytelling process."

This Cannes and Toronto Film Festival favorite by Aronofsky, director of the cult classic "Pi," also stars Jared Leto ("Fight Club"), Jennifer Connelly ("Inventing the Abbotts") and Marlon Wayans ("Scary Movie") in an eerie, dark and compelling modern-day fable destined to become a new classic.

The "Requiem for a Dream" DVD will be released on May 22, 2001, with an SRP of $24.98, and running time of 102 minutes. The VHS will also be available day and date for rental at video stores nationwide.

"Requiem for a Dream" appeared on more than 150 critics' Top 10 lists, including US Weekly, Entertainment Weekly, and The New York Times; was chosen as one of AFI's Movies of the Year; and nominated for five Independent Spirit Awards. At this year's Independent Spirit Awards, Academy Award(R)-winner Burstyn ("The Exorcist," "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore") won the Best Actress award and Libatique won the Best Cinematography award for their amazing work.

In addition to Burstyn's nomination for Best Actress for the 2001 Academy Award(R), she was also nominated for a Golden Globe(R) and Screen Actors Guild Award for her riveting performance in one of the year's most controversial films. The film was also nominated for 2001 Independent Spirit Awards for Best Picture, Best Director (Aronofsky) and Best Supporting Female (Jennifer Connelly). In addition, Aronofsky is the recipient of the Movieline Magazine Award "Hottest Filmmaker of 2000."

Film Synopsis

"Requiem for a Dream" is writer/director Aronofsky's follow up to his successful and acclaimed feature debut "Pi." Adapted from the 1978 novel by literary legend Hubert Selby Jr. ("Last Exit to Brooklyn"), "Requiem for a Dream" is set on the rusted mean streets of Coney Island, Brooklyn.

The dual storyline parallels four people who set out in pursuit of a better life. On the one hand, there's Sara, portrayed by Burstyn, a lonely widowed mother who is galvanized by the prospect of appearing on television. Then there's her son Harry (Leto), his beautiful girlfriend Marion (Connelly) and his best friend Tyrone (Wayans), who want to go into business for themselves.

Soon their beautiful dreams begin to fall apart as they take on horrifying dimensions; yet Sara, Harry, Marion and Tyrone refuse to abandon hope. Even when everything falls apart, they refuse to let go, plummeting with their dreams in a nightmarish gut-wrenching freefall.

Artisan Entertainment Inc. is a leading independent entertainment company that produces and distributes motion pictures and other programming in the home entertainment, theatrical, broadcast and pay television and Internet markets. The company has an extensive library of more than 6,700 titles for which it predominately has U.S. and Canadian home entertainment distribution rights.

Artisan's library includes home entertainment rights for event movies such as "Terminator," "Terminator 2: Judgment Day," "Dirty Dancing," "The Blair Witch Project," "Buena Vista Social Club" and the "Rambo" series as well as classic movies such as "It's a Wonderful Life" and Academy Award(R) winners such as "On Golden Pond," "The Last Emperor" and "The Piano." Artisan Entertainment also has a joint venture with Marvel Enterprises to develop, produce and distribute character-based programming across multimedia outlets.

Artisan Home Entertainment distributes video product directly to more than 12,000 retail stores in the United States from popular brands such as Discovery, Hallmark and its own Family Home Entertainment brand, which has released such titles as "Merlin," "Alice in Wonderland," and "Clifford The Big Red Dog" and award-winning product from "The Baby Einstein Company."

For more information, call Tracy Mlakar or Karen Appel at mPRm Public Relations at 323/933-3399, or visit www.artisanent.com.