Friday, June 22-------The Museum of the Moving Image, the only New York cultural institution exclusively devoted to the study and appreciation of film and the media arts, is joining with erstwhile entertainment trade publication Variety to present the Variety/Moving Image Screening Series, premiering twelve significant new films, followed by conversations with the directors and/or actors.

Christian BaleThe series is being launched on Tuesday, June 26th with the advanced preview of the new Werner Herzog wartime thriller RESCUE DAWN. In a distinct change of pace for the veteran director, Herzog offers a riveting and cinematically beautiful thriller about the daring escape from Laos of two American prisoners of war, played by Christian Bale and Steve Zahn. The film's lush visuals and heartpounding pace pushes the boundaries of fiction filmmaking with the remarkable endurance and daring of its actors. The film premiered at last year's Toronto International Film Festival and has played at film festivals in Austin, Denver, Rotterdam, Dublin, Berlin, Seattle and Munich. The film will be released by MGM on July 4th. Steve Zahn

Following the screening, Steve Zahn (who has also given memorable performances in such films as THAT THING YOU DO, RIDING IN CARS WITH BOYS and SHATTERED GLASS) will appear for a post-screening discussion. For information on this special screening and other events, log on to the Museum's website: www.movingimage.us or call 718.784.4520 for tickets.

Sandy Mandelberger, Film New York Editor