IFC Casts Julian Sands and Neha Dhupia in Bollywood Hero

Tabrez Noorani (Slumdog Millionaire) Named Line Producer and Michael Penn to Write and Produce Music for New Original Comedy Mini-Series Starring Chris Kattan

Production Begins February 28 in Mumbai, India

New York, NY - February 27, 2009 - IFC has signed actors Julian Sands (A Room with a View) and Neha Dhupia (former Miss India, Shootout at Lokhandwala) to star in the network's original three-part comedy mini-series Bollywood Hero starring Chris Kattan (Saturday Night Live). The network also announced that Tabrez Noorani (Slumdog Millionaire) has joined the series as line producer, and that singer-songwriter and composer Michael Penn (score, Boogie Nights ) will write and produce three original songs for the series.

The series will air on IFC August 6, 7 and 8. Production is scheduled to begin February 28, on location in Mumbai, India.

"Julian and Neha are incredible additions to our exceptionally strong cast of Hollywood and Bollywood actors for Bollywood Hero. This series will bring these two worlds together and capture their differences and similarities in a fresh, new, comedic way," said Debbie DeMontreux, IFC's SVP of original programming and an executive producer of the series. "Slumdog Millionaire has opened up an incredible pool of talent in India that we are fortunate to be working with on this project."

Bollywood Hero revolves around Kattan, who plays himself in this otherwise fictional comedy. Tired of being rejected as leading-man material in Hollywood, he burns his professional bridges in L.A. and ventures to India where he's been promised a starring role in a Bollywood film. While in India, he encounters cultural differences and a system that, much to his shock, is even more severe than what he faced in Hollywood.

Bollywood Hero is executive produced by Chris Kattan and Snackaholic's Ted Skillman and Belisa Balaban. STARZ is IFC's studio partner. In addition to DeMontreux, executive producers for IFC include Rachel Smith, VP of original programming; Jennifer Caserta, EVP and GM of IFC and Evan Shapiro, President of IFC tv and Sundance Channel.

Several crew members on Bollywood Hero were also associated with Slumdog Millionaire, the recent Oscar winner for Best Picture. Slumdog Millionaire crew members now working on Bollywood Hero include:

Tabrez Noorani- Line Producer

Owner, India Take One Productions and Line Producer on Slumdog Millionaire.

Longinus Fernandes - Choreographer

Has choreographed more than 200 music video's & ad films over a 15-year career, including Slumdog Millionaire (the Jai Ho dance sequence), Moaksha, Satta, Page3, Corporate, Dil Vil Pyar Vyar, Saawariya and Jaane- Tu.

Raj Acharya- 1st Assistant Director

Was 1st Assistant Director on Slumdog Millionaire. During a 19-year career, has been involved in a number of TV commercials and Hindi films, including One Night with the King, Natale in India, Jack Ass Number Two and Rajapur.

Udayan Baijal - 2nd Assistant Director

Was Assistant Editor on Slumdog Millionaire and has worked as an Assistant Director on international films and documentaries including The Thread, For Real and The Last Days of the Raj.

Sonia Nemawarkar - 2nd Assistant Director

Was 2nd Assistant Director on Slumdog Millionaire and has worked on several non-fiction shows in the capacity of producer, director & story editor.

Pravesh Sahni - Production Controller

Has had a long and illustrious 25-year career in the film production business. Was Production Controller on Slumdog Millionaire, and has worked on projects including Bride & Prejudice, Jackass II and Mistress of Spices.

ABOUT SNACKAHOLIC

Snackaholic was founded in August 2004 by Ted Skillman and Belisa Balaban. Ted and Belisa have almost 30 years of combined experience in entertainment and have worked in every aspect of the creative process. Together they have executive produced Tabloid Wars for Bravo, a docu-series set behind the scenes at the New York Daily News. In 2007, they produced Welcome to the Parker, another Bravo series that follows the staff and guests at the Parker Palm Springs resort. On the feature side, they are completing work on a documentary they shot and directed about a well-drilling project in the Samburu region of Kenya, as well as a film called BUSH (not about the former President).

ABOUT IFC

Operating under the mantra "always uncut," IFC (The Independent Film Channel) uncovers and champions alternative content and makes it available to audiences across multiple platforms: on-air, online and On Demand. In pursuit of what's new, next and relevant, IFC presents clever, offbeat original series like "The Whitest Kids U' Know" and "Z Rock" alongside thought-provoking original documentaries such as At the Death House Door. The network also offers exclusive web series, shorts, animation, and a comprehensive independent film library of award-winning titles and cult classics. IFC broadens the audience for independent culture through its exclusive live coverage of notable film and music events like the Independent Spirit Awards and South by Southwest. The network's on demand offering, IFC Free, gives audiences the opportunity to watch premieres of all of IFC's original series before they air on the linear network. IFC Media Lab offers financing, professional development and distribution opportunities for aspiring film makers. IFC is a subsidiary of Rainbow Media Holdings LLC.

RAINBOW MEDIA HOLDINGS LLC

Rainbow Media Holdings LLC is a subsidiary of Cablevision Systems Corporation (NYSE: CVC). Rainbow Media is a leading producer of targeted, multi-platform content for global distribution, creating and managing some of the world's most compelling and dynamic entertainment brands, including AMC, IFC, WE tv, Sundance Channel and VOOM HD Networks. Through IFC Entertainment, Rainbow Media also owns and manages the following: IFC Films, a leading distribution company for independent film; IFC Productions, a feature film production company that provides financing for select independent film projects; and IFC Center, a three screen, state-of-the-art cinema in the heart of New York's Greenwich Village. Rainbow Media also operates Rainbow Advertising Sales Corporation, its advertising sales company; Rainbow Network Communications, its full service network programming origination and distribution company; and 11 Penn TV, a company that manages Rainbow Media's NYC studios and post-production facilities.