NEWMARKET FILMS SET TO RELEASE "DIRECTOR'S CUT" OF RICHARD KELLY'S CULT FAVORITE DONNIE DARKO

Film to Premiere at 2004 Seattle Film Festival on May 29th, 2004

LOS ANGELES - Newmarket Films, the distribution arm of
the Newmarket Entertainment group of companies, will premiere the director's cut of Richard Kelly's critical and cult favorite Donnie Darko at the Seattle Film Festival on May 29th, it was announced today jointly by Newmarket Films' partners William Tyrer, Chris Ball and Bob Berney.

Written and directed by Richard Kelly, produced by Sean McKittrick, Nancy Juvonen, and Adam Fields, and executive produced by Drew Barrymore, Hunt Lowry, Casey La Scala, William Tyrer, Chris Ball and Aaron Ryder, Donnie Darko was originally released in 2001. The film, which stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Jena Malone, Drew Barrymore, James Duval and Maggie Gyllenhaal, received great critical praise and established Richard Kelly in his feature film debut as a director with a distinctive and original voice.

After the initial theatrical run, the film continued to grow, reaching ever-greater audiences on cable and DVD. As the passionate fan base exploded, midnight screenings of Donnie Darko burgeoned in city after city across the country.

" I am incredibly grateful to Newmarket for this opportunity to re-release Donnie Darko," said Kelly. "Even though I am proud of the theatrical version of the film, I've always felt that the story was somewhat compromised in order to come in under two hours. With this version I feel like I've finally been able to complete the film. There is a lot of new content that has never been seen before."

"We could not be more pleased about releasing Richard's director's cut of Donnie Darko," said Berney. "The film struck an unusually deep core with its fans. It will be rewarding for them to re-experience the film, and equally exciting for the new audiences it will reach in this director's
version."

Added Ryder, "We have been amazed by the longevity of Donnie Darko's success. It is a true cult phenomenon. We feel that the original never reached its full potential in initial release. Since then, it's proven itself to be a film of which audiences are very much aware and continue to discuss. We all feel this cut of the film offers a more accessible look into the story of Donnie Darko, while at the same time providing a more thorough representation of Richard's original vision."

The director's cut of Donnie Darko features 20 minutes of never-before-seen footage; new visual effects and new music.

"The midnight screenings from all over the country have helped fuel the Donnie Darko phenomenon. The film has emerged as a science-fiction epic made at an independent level. The new scenes, visual effects and music will definitely excite the die hard fan base, as well as introduce the film to a wider audience," said Kelly's producing partner Sean McKittrick.

"Drew and I consider Donnie Darko our most satisfying producing experience not because of what it did at the box office, but because of the personal letters and words people have shared with us regarding how much the film has meant to them. Knowing how affecting an experience is to the individual filmgoer makes it a true accomplishment," said Nancy Juvonen of Flower Films. "The release of the director's cut is a great opportunity to satisfy audiences even more. We look forward to giving more clues to those who already love Donnie Darko, as well as to introducing this unique tale to those who have not yet seen the film."

Donnie Darko centers on one extraordinary but disenchanted teenager who takes Time's Arrow for a ride. October 2nd, 1988: just another ordinary day in Donnie Darko's teen-age existence. He's taken his medication, watched Dukakis and Bush debate, and had dinner with the family. Then an outrageous accident occurs, which just misses claiming Donnie's life. As Donnie begins to explore what it means to still be alive, and in short order to be in love, he uncovers secrets of the universe that give him a tempting power to alter time and destiny.

Newmarket Films, the distribution arm of the Newmarket Entertainment group of companies, most recently released, in partnership with Icon, Mel Gibson's controversial and critically acclaimed The Passion of the Christ, which reigned as number one at the box-office for three consecutive weeks and has earned more than $360 million, making it the most successful independent film of all time; Monster, which garnered Charlize Theron an Academy Award for her breath-taking performance as condemned serial killer Aileen Wuornos, and Whale Rider, which earned 13-year-old Keisha Castle Hughes a best actress nod, making her the youngest actress in history to be nominated for this honor. Next up for the company is Stander, starring Thomas Jane (The
Punisher) in a
star-making role as Andre Stander, a South African police officer turned notorious bank robber, and The Woodsman, starring Kevin Bacon, who turns in a staggering performance as a recovering sex offender.

The Newmarket Entertainment group of companies is made up of a several companies that develop, produce and distribute feature films for the big screen and home video. Newmarket Capital Group, founded 10 years ago by William Tyrer and Chris Ball, is the flagship company and has produced such box-office and critical hits as Memento and the Julia Roberts, Brad Pitt-starrer The Mexican.