BURBANK, CA, - The all-star cast and the filmmakers from the much-anticipated caper comedy "Ocean's Thirteen" will be crossing the country for major events leading up to the June 8th release of the film.
Combining film and philanthropy, two of the events will serve to benefit the aid group the International Rescue Committee for Not On Our Watch. Co-founded by producer Jerry Weintraub, and "Ocean's Thirteen" stars George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon and Don Cheadle, Not On Our Watch is a humanitarian organization whose initiative is to support existing Darfur relief efforts and to ensure the protection of civilians in that region.
Jerry Weintraub remarked, "It was such a privilege to reunite with Steven Soderbergh and an amazing cast to make 'Ocean's Thirteen.' I am very proud of the film, and I am excited about premiering the film in multiple cities across the country. However, the thing I am most proud of by far is that these events will benefit a cause that is very important to me and my colleagues."
The events kick off in Hollywood, where stars George Clooney, Brad Pitt and Matt Damon, and producer Jerry Weintraub, will make a strong "impression" at one of the town's most famous landmarks. Surrounded by cheering fans and friends, the four will have their hand and footprints immortalized in cement in the famed forecourt of Grauman's Chinese Theatre. The Hand & Footprint Ceremony will take place on Tuesday, June 5, at 11:30 a.m., and footage of the event will be made available via a satellite feed (coordinates to follow separately).
This event will also mark Hollywood history. While it has become a rare honor for any Hollywood luminary to have his hand and footprints cemented for posterity at Grauman's, the "Ocean's" films' producer and 50-year Hollywood veteran, Jerry Weintraub, has the distinction of being the first producer ever to be accorded that privilege.
Later that same evening, "Ocean's Thirteen" will be presented in its North American premiere at Grauman's Chinese Theatre, beginning with the screening at 7:00 p.m. Attending the screening will be the film's star-studded cast, including Clooney, Pitt and Damon, in addition to Andy Garcia, Don Cheadle, Bernie Mac, Ellen Barkin, Al Pacino, Casey Affleck, Scott Caan, Eddie Jemison, Shaobo Qin, Carl Reiner and Elliott Gould. Director Steven Soderbergh, screenwriters Brian Koppelman & David Levien, and producer Jerry Weintraub will also be on hand to meet and greet the celebrity guests and industry VIPs in attendance.
Las Vegas, the site of the film's story, is the next stop, where a special benefit screening of "Ocean's Thirteen" will open this year's CineVegas Film Festival on June 6. During the opening night festivities--dubbed Lights, Camera, Take Action--Jerry Weintraub will also be honored with the CineVegas Vanguard Producer Award. Benefiting the aid group the International Rescue Committee for Not On Our Watch, the star-studded event will be attended by "Ocean's Thirteen" cast members, including George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Don Cheadle, Ellen Barkin and Andy Garcia; producer Jerry Weintraub; and other celebrity guests.
Heading east, the group will attend the Chicago premiere of "Ocean's Thirteen" on June 7 at the AMC River East. George Clooney, Matt Damon, Don Cheadle, Ellen Barkin, Bernie Mac, and Jerry Weintraub will be among the celebrities in attendance for the screening, which is being hosted by Vanity Fair and will also benefit the aid group the International Rescue Committee for Not On Our Watch.
In advance of these events, "Ocean's Thirteen" will celebrate its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival on May 24.
Opening nationwide on June 8, "Ocean's Thirteen"--the third film in the successful "Ocean's" franchise--reunites director Steven Soderbergh and stars George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Andy Garcia, Don Cheadle, Bernie Mac, Casey Affleck, Scott Caan, Eddie Jemison, Shaobo Qin, Carl Reiner and Elliott Gould. Joining the cast for the first time are Al Pacino and Ellen Barkin.
In "Ocean's Thirteen," Danny Ocean (George Clooney) and the gang have only one reason to pull off their most ambitious and riskiest casino heist--to defend one of their own. When ruthless casino owner Willy Bank (Al Pacino) double-crosses one of the original Ocean's eleven--Reuben Tishkoff (Elliott Gould)--the gang teams up one more time to see if they can break "The Bank." The plan is elaborate, dangerous and damn near impossible...but there are no limits when it comes to one of their own.
Warner Bros. Pictures presents, in association with Village Roadshow Pictures, a Jerry Weintraub/Section Eight Production, "Ocean's Thirteen." The film was directed by Steven Soderbergh from a screenplay by Brian Koppelman & David Levien. Jerry Weintraub produced the film, with Susan Ekins, Gregory Jacobs, Frederic W. Brost and Bruce Berman executive producing.
This film has been rated "PG-13" by the MPAA for "brief sensuality."
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