HBO Canada Puts a Spotlight on Malaria Awareness with HBO Films' Mary and Martha and Screening Event with Spread the Net

• Hilary Swank stars in Mary and Martha, debuting April 20 on HBO Canada
• Spread the Net, The Belinda Stronach Foundation's malaria prevention initiative, to host special screening in Toronto on April 18

TORONTO, April 9, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - Oscar^® winner Hilary Swank and Oscar^® nominee Brenda Blethyn star in HBO Films' Mary and Martha, the story of two mothers who find a way to make a difference by dedicating themselves to the cause of malaria prevention. The film premieres Saturday, April 20 at 8 p.m. ET/MT on HBO Canada, a multiplex channel of Astral's The Movie Network (Eastern Canada) and Corus Entertainment's Movie Central (Western Canada), day-and-date with HBO in the U.S., and re-airs on Thursday, April 25 to commemorate World Malaria Day.

To help increase awareness about malaria prevention, Spread the Net, in participation with HBO Canada, is inviting supporters to A Night Out for Nets on Thursday, April 18. The event is an exclusive screening of Mary and Martha hosted by Spread the Net Co-Chair Rick Mercer. Space is limited and supporters can visit www.spreadthenet.org for more details. A Night Out for Nets aims to raise awareness about malaria in the days leading up to World Malaria Day. 

Mary and Martha is a fictional story inspired by real events starring Swank as Mary, an American interior designer who takes her little boy on an extended trip to Africa, and Blethyn as Martha, an English housewife whose own son heads to Africa as a volunteer. When malaria strikes both of their sons, the lives of these very different women change forever as they forge a deep friendship and embark on an epic journey of self-discovery to Africa, dedicating themselves to the cause of malaria prevention. Beginning to rebuild their lives, they show how ordinary people can make a difference and inspire positive change in the process.

In addition to Swank and Blethyn, the film also stars Sam Claflin, Frank Grillo and James Woods.

Mary and Martha is an HBO Films Presentation of a WTTV Working Title Television Production, in association with BBC and NBC Universal. The film is executive produced by Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Juliette Howell and Liza Chasin and produced by Hilary Bevan Jones and Genevieve Hofmeyr.

In Eastern Canada, the film will be available in High Definition, on demand, on TMN GO, and on HBO Canada OnLine.

In Western Canada, programming will be available in High Definition on HBO Canada HD; on demand, via mobile and online with participating service providers.

About Spread the Net
Spread the Net is a grassroots campaign designed to motivate, educate and inspire Canadians to help end preventable malaria deaths by raising funds and awareness to support the purchase and distribution of bed nets to children and families in Africa.

Spread the Net was founded after Belinda Stronach and Rick Mercer traveled to Africa in 2006 with Professor Jeffrey D. Sachs, Director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University and at that time, the Director of the UN Millennium Project. It was there that they saw first-hand the devastating effects of malaria, and the shockingly simple bed net solution so out-of-reach for many thousands of African families.

Thanks to the generosity of Canadian supporters Spread the Net has raised enough funds to help facilitate the distribution of over 545,000 bed nets to children and families in Liberia, Rwanda, Uganda, Guinea and Tanzania. For more information please visit www.spreadthenet.org.

HBO Canada is a multiplex channel offered by Astral's The Movie Network (Eastern Canada) and Corus Entertainment's Movie Central (Western Canada). HBO Canada brings Canadians the current slate of signature dramatic programs for which HBO is known, together with new and never-before-seen programming including comedy series, live specials, sporting events, behind-the-scenes content and titles from HBO's extensive library - all in an uncut and commercial-free environment. HBO Canada is offered in high definition on HBO Canada HD and programming is accessible on demand and online where available by service provider. For more information, please visit www.hbocanada.com.

The Movie Network is a member of the Astral family. Astral Media Inc. (TSX : ACM.A/ACM.B) is one of Canada's largest media companies. It operates several of the country's most popular pay and specialty television, radio, out-of-home advertising and interactive media properties. Astral plays a central role in community life across the country by offering diverse, rich and vibrant programming that meets the tastes and needs of consumers and advertisers. To learn more about Astral, visit astral.com.

Movie Central is owned by Corus Entertainment Inc. (CJR.B), a Canadian-based media and entertainment company. Corus is a market leader in specialty television and radio with additional assets in pay television, television broadcasting, children's book publishing and children's animation. Experience Corus on the web at www.corusent.com. 

For access to The Movie Network's media room or Movie Central's press site, please visit http://press.astral.com or http://mediacentre.corusent.com.

SOURCE: The Movie Network

Media contacts:
The Movie Network (Eastern Canada)                         
Nicolle Balen
[phone]
[email protected]

Movie Central (Western Canada)
Owen McCorquodale
[phone]
[email protected]

Spread the Net 
Katie Agostino
416-531-1945
[email protected]