Tuesday December 7, 3:10 pm Eastern Time

Company Press Release

SOURCE: Universal Pictures

Universal Pictures to Host the West Coast Premiere of 'Snow Falling on Cedars' To Benefit the American Film Institute Associates on Thursday, December 9

WHAT: The West Coast Premiere of Universal Pictures' ``Snow Falling On

Cedars,`` Academy Award(TM)-nominated director Scott Hicks'

first film since ``Shine,'' to benefit the AFI (American Film

Institute) Associates. Based on David Guterson's best-selling

novel, ``Snow Falling On Cedars'' is a haunting tale of love

undone by societal pressures and familial customs -- an

elegiac, multi-layered exploration of truth, justice and

vagaries of the human heart. ``Snow Falling On Cedars'' opens in

select cities on Wednesday, December 22, 1999, and nationwide

on Friday, January 7, 2000.

               In 1984, the AFI Associates was formed to further the work of
               the American Film Institute.  The Associates also develop
               creative programs that enlist community support, and have
               raised nearly $3 million on behalf of the institute.

    WHO:       "Snow Falling On Cedars" stars Youki Kudoh, Rick Yune and Reeve
               Carney will join director Scott Hicks, co-screenwriter Ron
               Bass, novelist David Guterson, producers Kathleen Kennedy,
               Frank Marshall and Harry J. Ufland, executive producers Carol
               Baum and Lloyd Silverman, editor Hank Corwin and composer James
               Newton Howard.

               Other celebrity guests include: Freddie Prinze, Jr., Lauren
               Holly, Nick Nolte, Claire Forlani, Peter MacNicol, Lucy Liu,
               Jamie Kennedy, Alanis Morissette, Kevin Pollak, Cameron Crowe,
               Robert Forster, Sydney Pollack, Ridley Scott, Jan DeBont, Jena
               Malone and many others.

    WHERE:     Mann's National Theatre
               10925 Lindbrook Avenue, Westwood

    WHEN:      Thursday, December 9
               Celebrity arrivals       6:30 p.m.
               Screening begins         7:30 p.m.

    CONTACTS:  Television: Roz Stevenson, 818-777-1392, or Print: Amanda
               Scholer, 818-777-0641, Photographers: Bette Einbinder,
               818-777-3226, or Online: Todd Turner, 818-777-6363, all for
               Universal Pictures.

SOURCE: Universal Pictures