A release date for Aardman Animations/DreamWorks' eagerly awaitedstop-motion feature, CHICKEN RUN, has been announced for June 23, 2000 inthe US. Fifteen minutes of completed footage were recently shown toenthusiastic Aardman employees in England. The film is being directed byAardman co-founder Peter Lord and Nick Park (The Wrong Trousers, CreatureComforts), and is described as The Great Escape with chickens. DreamWorksSKG will distribute the film in the U.S. and most international territoriesoutside of Europe. In addition, DreamWorks is the exclusive worldwidelicensing and merchandising rights holder for the film. The otherco-financier, French company Pathe, which has been involved in theproduction since it went into development at Aardman over three years ago,will distribute the film in Europe.