Documentary Film on Global Water Crisis ''RUNNING DRY'' to Premiere in Washington, DC; Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars Presents Film.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- The documentary feature film RUNNING DRY will premiere at a special screening and reception presented by the Environmental Change and Security Project on February 24, 2005, 3:00 PM in Washington, DC at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. The film will be introduced by writer, producer, and director of RUNNING DRY Jim Thebaut, president of the Chronicles Group, Jeremy Pelczer, president & CEO American Water and corporate sponsor of the film, award-winning actress Jane Seymour narrator of film, and Patricia Simon, wife of the late former U.S. Senator Paul Simon of Illinois.

RUNNING DRY is a compelling documentary that issues an urgent call to save millions of people around the world imperiled by the lack of access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation. The project was inspired by the late Senator Simon's powerful book, Tapped Out. Jim Thebaut had been developing the project in association with Simon until his recent death.

Award-winning actress Jane Seymour narrates as the film takes you on a journey that explores the impending severity of the global water crisis throughout specific regions in southern Asia, northern China, the Middle East, Africa and the American southwest. Various experts and world leaders are interviewed throughout the documentary stating their concerns, not only about their own regions, but also, about the challenges that exist throughout the world.

Everyday an average of 9,500 children die due to the lack of water or because of disease caused by polluted water. RUNNING DRY promotes and reinforces the message that water is a precious global resource, while also presenting a variety of solutions that are available to solve the crisis. The RUNNING DRY project is designed to be a comprehensive public information education project concerning the evolving water crisis.

The RUNNING DRY documentary was fully funded, and made possible by a grant from American Water, as well as a substantial grant provided by Carnegie Corporation of New York. Other public and private entities have also contributed to the evolution of the project. For more information about the film and the Running Dry Project please go to the website http://www.runningdry.org

RUNNING DRY PREMIERE SCREENING

Thursday, February 24th at 3:00 PM (Reception follows)
Woodrow Wilson Center at the Ronald Reagan Building
1300 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
6th Floor Auditorium
Washington, D.C.

A map to the Center is available at http://wwics.si.edu/.

Note: Due to heightened security, entrance to the building will be restricted and photo identification is required. Please allow additional time to pass through a security checkpoint.

For media attendance and/or coverage please contact Kim Dixon, dominion3 public relations, [e-mail] / [phone], and/or Sharon McCarter at Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, director of Outreach and Communications, at [e-mail] / [phone].