ANNA FARIS TO RECEIVE “CINEMACON® COMEDY STAR OF THE YEAR AWARD”

WASHINGTON D.C. -- Anna Faris will receive the "CinemaCon Comedy Star of Year Award," it was announced today by the convention's managing director, Mitch Neuhauser. CinemaCon, the official convention of The National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO), the largest and most important gathering of cinema owners and operators from around the world, will be held April 23 - 26, 2012 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Faris will receive this special honor at the "CinemaCon Big Screen Achievement Awards" ceremony Thursday evening, April 26, in The Colosseum at Caesars Palace. The Coca-Cola Company, the official presenting sponsor of CinemaCon, will host the final night gala awards program.

"With a signature no-holds-barred approach, Faris best exemplifies the spirit and nerve of comedy cinema today," said Neuhauser. "Her charm and unassuming wit capture our hearts time and again with each new performance. For this, and for keeping the state of comedy vibrant, Faris could not be more deserving of the ‘CinemaCon Comedy Star of the Year Award.'"

Faris will be seen next starring opposite Sacha Baron Cohen in Paramount Pictures' "The Dictator," in theaters May 16, 2012. Directed by Larry Charles, written by Sacha Baron Cohen, Alec Berg, David Mandel and Jeff Schaffer, and also starring Ben Kingsley, "The Dictator" is the heroic story of a dictator who risks his life to ensure that democracy would never come to the country he so lovingly oppressed.

Originally from Seattle, Faris started acting in the theater at a young age. Since her early start, she has gone on to star in numerous films. Some of her feature film credits include: the Oscar-nominated "Lost in Translation," "Observe & Report," "Brokeback Mountain," "Smiley Face," "Yogi Bear," "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs," "Alvin and The Chipmunks: The Squeakquel," "Take Me Home Tonight," "Mama's Boy," "Just Friends," "Waiting" and the "Scary Movie" franchise - Dimension Films' most successful franchise to date. She also starred in and produced "The House Bunny" in 2008. On the small screen, Faris has had memorable recurring roles on "Entourage" as herself and on the final season of "Friends," where she played a surrogate mother to Monica and Chandler's adopted baby.

Faris was last seen in Twentieth Century Fox and New Regency's romantic comedy "What's Your Number?" alongside Chris Evans, which she also executive produced. She is currently shooting Working Title's "I Give it a Year" alongside Rose Bryne and Simon Baker.