Mummies: Secrets of the Pharaohs Unravels an Ancient Mystery at Discovery Place

New Giant Screen film premieres at the IMAX® Dome Theatre beginning Jan.18

January 07, 2008

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Guests find themselves on a modern-day, forensic adventure, uncovering ancient wonders and historic intrigue in Mummies: Secrets of the Pharaohs in The Charlotte Observer IMAX® Dome Theatre at Discovery Place beginning Friday, Jan. 18.

Worldwide curiosity about mummification is an age-old phenomenon as enduring as mummies themselves. During Egypt’s history, millions were mummified. In Mummies: Secrets of the Pharaohs, filmgoers will marvel at the sight of these human time capsules, shown in larger-than-life detail on the Carolinas’ largest movie screen.

Mummies: Secrets of the Pharaohs takes viewers on a journey back thousands of years, to the age of the great pharaohs, to explore why mummification was so vital to ancient Egyptian life. Surprisingly, the techniques and ingredients used for mummifying have only been pieced together in the last 15 years, after a 2,000-year memory lapse. The film then leaps ahead to the 1800s, and dramatically recreates the incredible events surrounding the late 19th century discovery of a cache of 40 royal mummies, including 12 Kings of Egypt, in a single tomb. Among them were three of the greatest pharaohs that ever lived: the legendary Rameses the Great – considered to be the pharaoh of the Exodus and perhaps the only face the world can see from the Bible – his father Seti I, and his son. Prior to this, not even one pharaoh had ever been found. Believed by many to be the ultimate archaeological find, it was uncovered a full, four decades before Howard Carter found the intact tomb of the boy-king, Tutankhamen.

Interwoven throughout the film’s historic narrative is a modern-day forensic story, a scientific journey to extract clues about our past that could have an impact on our future. The forensic aspect of the film includes a scientific first – a discovery that could help researchers understand how ancient diseases have evolved into modern-day counterparts. Perhaps the DNA held in mummies like Rameses will be able to help to cure people today.

Narrated by actor Christopher Lee (The Lord Of The Rings, Star Wars, and the original 1959 film, The Mummy), Mummies: Secrets of the Pharaohs unravels the mysteries enshrouding the ancient royal mummies; how they were embalmed and where they were hidden. Featuring top researchers including Egyptologists, Dr. Bob Brier and Dr. Zahi Hawass (head of Egypt’s antiquities) and DNA scientist, Angelique Corthals, the film embarks on a genetic analysis of mummies that could have huge implications for the study of modern human diseases.

Filmed by award-winning director, Keith Melton (Mystic India, Cirque du Soleil) and renowned cinematographer, Reed Smoot (Mysteries of Egypt, Mystic India, Shackleton’s Antarctic Adventure), with a screenplay by Arabella Cecil (Kilimanjaro: to the Roof of Africa), Mummies: Secrets of the Pharaohs features breathtaking scenes of natural beauty and stunning locations combined with incredible CGI sequences, lavish sets and period recreations of Egyptian history. IMAX cameras capture sweeping images of the swirling desert sand dunes, the dramatic rocky cliffs of the Northern Sahara and the real wonders of Egypt at key historic sites with treasures honoring Egypt’s most prolific pharaohs.

Mummies: Secrets of the Pharaohs runs from Friday, Jan. 18 — Thursday, April. 17, 2008. Tickets to Mummies: Secrets of the Pharaohs are $8 for ages 14-59, $7 for ages 2-13 and 60+ and are free for children younger than 2. Group and Member discounts also are available. Visit discoveryplace.org or call 800-935-0553 for showtimes. Concessions, including popcorn, beverages and candy are available during movie showings.

Mummies: Secrets of the Pharaohs is a production of Giant Screen Films and Gravity Pictures, in association with The Franklin Institute, Hugo Productions and the Museum of Science, Boston. Support for the film was provided by the U.S. Dome Theater Alliance. The film is distributed by Giant Screen Films of Evanston, IL. mummiesfilm.com

About Discovery Place
Discovery Place is located in uptown Charlotte at 301 N. Tryon Street. Convenient parking is available in the science center’s parking garage — the Carol Grotnes Belk Complex — at the corner of Sixth and Church streets. For more information about Discovery Place, guests should call (704) 372- 6261 or visit www.discoveryplace.org.

One of the top hands-on science museums in the nation, Discovery Place provides ever-changing, entertaining facilities that foster experiences in areas that range from life science to space exploration. More than a half-million people from all over the United States visit Discovery Place, its IMAX® Dome Theatre and Charlotte Nature Museum each year. Discovery Place is supported, in part, with a Basic Operating Grant from the Arts & Science Council.

About IMAX Corporation
IMAX Corporation is one of the world’s leading entertainment technology companies, specializing in digital and film-based motion picture technologies. The worldwide IMAX network is among the most important and successful theatrical distribution platforms for major event Hollywood films around the globe, with IMAX theatres delivering the world’s best cinematic presentations using proprietary IMAX, IMAX 3D, and IMAX DMR technology.

IMAX DMR is the Company’s groundbreaking digital remastering technology that allows it to transform digitally virtually any conventional motion picture into the unparalleled image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience. IMAX’s renowned projectors display crystal-clear images on the world’s biggest screens, and the IMAX brand is recognized throughout the world for extraordinary and immersive entertainment experiences for consumers. As of September 30, 2006, there were 280 IMAX theatres operating in 40 countries.

IMAX®, IMAX® 3D, IMAX DMR®, IMAX MPX® and The IMAX Experience® are trademarks of IMAX Corporation. More information on the Company can be found at www.imax.com.

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