News Release


Toronto, February 26, 2007
Has the tomb of Jesus Christ been found? *A VISIONTV CANADIAN EXCLUSIVE* Academy Award Winner James Cameron Presents A Simcha Jacobovici Film THE LOST TOMB OF JESUS Premieres Tuesday, March 6, 8 p.m. and 12 a.m. ET Repeat Broadcasts: Saturday March 10, 8 p.m. ET Thursday, March 15, 9 p.m. and 12 a.m. ET HarperCollins Canada Ltd. to publish companion book: The Jesus Family Tomb - In stores Feb. 27, 2007 In 1980, construction workers in Jerusalem uncovered a 2,000-year old burial tomb. Archaeologists had just a few days to examine this find before it was cemented over to make way for a new apartment block. They found 10 limestone coffins or ossuaries inside. Six of the ossuaries in this tomb have inscriptions on them. As it turns out, every inscription in this particular tomb relates to the Gospels. Who was buried there? And what is the meaning of the mysterious symbol carved over the entrance? In the feature documentary The Lost Tomb of Jesus, and in the companion book The Jesus Family Tomb, a case is made that the 2,000-year-old "Tomb of the Ten Ossuaries" belonged to the family of Jesus of Nazareth. The findings of the documentary and the book were made public today at a press conference in New York. A statistical study commissioned by the broadcast partners (Discovery Channel US, Canada's VisionTV and Channel 4 in the UK) has concluded that the probability factor is 600 to 1 in favour of this tomb being the tomb of Jesus of Nazareth and his family. The film also documents DNA extraction from human residue found in two of the ossuaries and reveals new evidence that throws light on Jesus' relationship with Mary Magdalene. The Da Vinci Code is fiction. The Lost Tomb of Jesus is reality. The documentary includes dramatic recreations, based on the latest historical evidence, illustrating accurate images of Jesus of Nazareth, his family, his followers, his ministry, his crucifixion and his entombment. Part archaeological adventure, part Biblical history, part forensic science, part theological controversy: this is a story that will be carried around the world. The executive producer of The Lost Tomb of Jesus is Academy Award winning filmmaker, James Cameron. The producers are award winning filmmakers Felix Golubev and Ric Esther Bienstock. The director is Emmy Award winning documentarian, Simcha Jacobovici. Said Alberta Nokes, Executive Producer for VisionTV: "Simcha is a great storyteller. He has an uncanny ability to connect the dots between academic disciplines and to see what others may have missed or dismissed. By investigating whether or not the Talpiot Tomb was in fact exactly what it seemed to be, rather than dismissing that possibility as others had, Simcha and James Cameron have made a compellingly strong case that it is the Jesus family tomb. Now it's up to scientists and archaeologists to examine their evidence further."

Toronto, February 26, 2007

Has the tomb of Jesus Christ been found?

***A VISIONTV CANADIAN EXCLUSIVE***
Academy Award Winner James Cameron Presents
A Simcha Jacobovici Film
THE LOST TOMB OF JESUS

Premieres Tuesday, March 6, 8 p.m. and 12 a.m. ET
Repeat Broadcasts:
Saturday March 10, 8 p.m. ET
Thursday, March 15, 9 p.m. and 12 a.m. ET

HarperCollins Canada Ltd. to publish companion book: The Jesus Family Tomb - In stores Feb. 27, 2007

In 1980, construction workers in Jerusalem uncovered a 2,000-year old burial tomb. Archaeologists had just a few days to examine this find before it was cemented over to make way for a new apartment block. They found 10 limestone coffins or ossuaries inside.

Six of the ossuaries in this tomb have inscriptions on them. As it turns out, every inscription in this particular tomb relates to the Gospels.

Who was buried there? And what is the meaning of the mysterious symbol carved over the entrance?

In the feature documentary The Lost Tomb of Jesus, and in the companion book The Jesus Family Tomb, a case is made that the 2,000-year-old "Tomb of the Ten Ossuaries" belonged to the family of Jesus of Nazareth.

The findings of the documentary and the book were made public today at a press conference in New York.

A statistical study commissioned by the broadcast partners (Discovery Channel US, Canada's VisionTV and Channel 4 in the UK) has concluded that the probability factor is 600 to 1 in favour of this tomb being the tomb of Jesus of Nazareth and his family.

The film also documents DNA extraction from human residue found in two of the ossuaries and reveals new evidence that throws light on Jesus' relationship with Mary Magdalene.

The Da Vinci Code is fiction. The Lost Tomb of Jesus is reality.

The documentary includes dramatic recreations, based on the latest historical evidence, illustrating accurate images of Jesus of Nazareth, his family, his followers, his ministry, his crucifixion and his entombment.

Part archaeological adventure, part Biblical history, part forensic science, part theological controversy: this is a story that will be carried around the world.

The executive producer of The Lost Tomb of Jesus is Academy Award winning filmmaker, James Cameron. The producers are award winning filmmakers Felix Golubev and Ric Esther Bienstock. The director is Emmy Award winning documentarian, Simcha Jacobovici.

Said Alberta Nokes, Executive Producer for VisionTV: "Simcha is a great storyteller. He has an uncanny ability to connect the dots between academic disciplines and to see what others may have missed or dismissed. By investigating whether or not the Talpiot Tomb was in fact exactly what it seemed to be, rather than dismissing that possibility as others had, Simcha and James Cameron have made a compellingly strong case that it is the Jesus family tomb. Now it's up to scientists and archaeologists to examine their evidence further."