MELBOURNE, Tuesday, 24 February 2009 – Madman titles MAN ON WIRE and DEPARTURES have each been honoured with an Oscar® at this year’s 81st annual Academy Awards® ceremony.

MAN ON WIRE ($29.95 SRP) – the thrilling tale of tightrope artist Philippe Petit’s daring, but illegal, high-wire routine performed between the twin towers of the World Trade Center in 1974 – has received the Academy Award® for Best Documentary Feature. Petit toured Australia in October 2008 for MAN ON WIRE’s theatrical season, including an appearance on Andrew Denton’s ENOUGH ROPE.

MAN ON WIRE is available now on DVD.

Japanese film DEPARTURES has taken out the Academy Award® for Best Foreign Language Film. DEPARTURES is the story of Daigo Kobayashi, a professional cellist who faces unemployment when his orchestra is dissolved. Upon answering an advertisement entitled “Departures”, thinking it is for a travel agency, Daigo finds himself in the role of “Nokanshi” or “encoffineer”, a funerary celebrant who prepares bodies for entry into the next life.

Also nominated in the category was WALTZ WITH BASHIR ($29.95 SRP), the buzz title at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival and winner of the Golden Globe for Best Foreign Film, WALTZ WITH BASHIR is the story of Ari, an Israeli soldier, coming to terms with the suppressed memories of his service during the first Lebanon war.

DEPARTURES is coming soon from Madman. WALTZ WITH BASHIR is available on DVD, April 1st, 2009.

The 81st annual Academy Awards® ceremony was held yesterday, Sunday, February 22, 2009 (Pacific Standard Time), at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center®, Los Angeles, California.