News Release

Date:Toronto, Canada,June 18, 2002

"I WAS A RAT" WINS BIG AT 2002 BANFF TELEVSION FESTIVAL
CCI Entertainment (Catalyst Cambium International) is thrilled to announce that I Was A Rat was honoured with two awards at the Banff Television Festival 2002. The three x one hour mini series/TV movie won the 2002 Banff Rockie Award in the Children's Program Category. Executive producer,Nancy Chapelle and Producer Paul Brown accepted the Telefilm Canada Prize for Best Independent Canadian Production in English. Earlier this year, I Was A Rat opened the Sprockets Toronto International Film Festival for Children and received the audience choice 2002 YTV Silver Sprocket Award.

I Was A Rat, a Catalyst/BBC co-production, is based on the award-winning book by Philip Pullman. It is a modern movie that gives a new perspective to the classic Cinderella fairytale. The movie portrays a rat turned pageboy who misses the magical hour at midnight and is left behind to remain a boy. With only a dim recollection of his past life, the boy sets off on a humorous adventure in attempts to find out where he belongs. When asked who he is, the answer is simple; "I Was A Rat, now I'm a boy."

"We couldn't be happier with the recognition we have received for this movie. It is a testament to the quality of the cast, crew, and our relationship with partner Elaine Sperber, Head of Children's Drama at the BBC who worked on this production," says Nancy Chapelle, Executive Producer, CCI Entertainment.

I Was A Rat is one of several family films CCI has produced for its Popcorn Pictures Label of family entertainment.

Cambium Catalyst International Entertainment (CCI Entertainment) is an independent Canadian production and distribution company known for its quality children's programming, factual series, and family movies. Cambium Entertainment and Catalyst Entertainment merged their creative talents to form CCI in 2002. CCI is the Canadian associate of Gullane Entertainment, the family entertainment studio known for Thomas the Tank Engine and Guinness World Records.

For further information contact:

CONTACT:
Jill Keenleyside
Executive VP, CCI Entertainment
jkeenleyside@ccientertainment.com

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