Barco chosen for European premieres of "Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith".

Kuurne, Belgium, May 11th, 2005 – Barco, official partner of the Cannes Film Festival and one of only three projector manufacturers to hold a licence for Texas Instruments DLP Cinema^TM display technology, is pleased to announce that its D-Cine DP100 Projector has been chosen to bring the digital premieres of “Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith” to theaters throughout Europe’s foremost cities.

Premiering in Cannes on May 15th, Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith will continue its European premiere with screenings in, amongst others, London, Berlin, Madrid and Rome throughout May.

A Barco D-Cine DP100 projector featuring TI DLP Cinema^TM technology will allow millions of fans throughout Europe to experience “Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith” as Lucasfilm created it: with rich color, high contrast and incredible sharpness.

Recognized as the industry standard for Digital Cinema, Barco’s D-Cine DP100 projector is based on TI’s DLP Cinema^TM technology, which enables it to deliver the benefits of 2K display resolution, 18.000 Cinema Lumens light output, a contrast ratio of 2000:1 as well as DLP Cinema^TM, CineBlack^TM, CinePallete^TM and CineLink^TM image control, the perfect tool to answer the demanding needs of the digital cinema industry.

Barco’s D-Cine products, which incorporate DLP Cinema^TM technology, open up a new world of theatrical, advertising and business opportunities to directors, distributors and exhibitors alike. From digital mastering to premier quality feature film screenings, from alternative presentations in the auditorium to advertising and information displays, Barco’s digital cinema products offer a solution.

“Barco is very proud to be chosen to provide the projection technology for these much anticipated premieres. As true pioneer of the digital cinema industry, Barco’s commitment to the evolution of the industry goes much further than simply delivering technology. Our aim remains to drive the industry forward and enable film makers to screen their work under optimum quality conditions, without the slightest compromise on quality,” states Barco’s Nico Vernieuwe, VP Digital Cinema.

Since being awarded the Texas Instruments DLP Cinema^TM licence in 2000, Barco has developed the industry's widest range of projection solutions for digital cinema including its state-of-the-art 'D-Cine Premiere' 1.3k and 2k projectors, 'Communicator' software control and 'ACSAR' alternative content processors now installed in leading Post facilities and Digital Cinemas worldwide. Barco today counts over 140 installations based on DLP Cinema^TM technology in countries throughout Europe, Asia and North America.

Barco Media & Entertainment, a division of Barco, provides specialized visualization solutions targeted at the needs of the Media & Entertainment industries. It counts names such as U2, Ferrari, Louis Vuitton, Madonna and Daimler Chrysler, Clearchannel Spectacolor, as well as installations for Merrill Lynch, Kinepolis, China Film Group, Bank of America, Deutsche Bank, Reliant Park Stadium (USA) and Miami Heat NBA amongst some of its key references.

About Barco
Barco, an international company headquartered in Kortrijk, Belgium, provides visualization and display solutions for professional markets. Barco designs and develops solutions for large screen visualization, display solutions for life-critical applications, and systems for visual inspection. Barco is active worldwide and has its own facilities for Sales & Marketing, Customer Support, R&D and Manufacturing in Europe, North America and Asia Pacific. Barco is quoted on Euronext Brussels and is a BEL 20 and a Next 150 company (Euronext: BAR; Reuters: BARBt.BR; Bloomberg: BAR BB).

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