Borders® Is Exclusive Retailer for '16 Wishes' to Air on Disney Channel; Merchandise Hits Borders Stores Tomorrow, June 25

ANN ARBOR, Mich., June 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Borders® is the exclusive retailer for "16 Wishes," starring Debby Ryan, which airs tomorrow, Friday, June 25 (8:00 p.m., ET/PT) on Disney Channel. To celebrate the premiere, tomorrow Borders will unveil an array of "16 Wishes"-related merchandise in superstore locations nationwide.  

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The "16 Wishes" merchandise, which can be found nowhere else except Borders, includes the movie tie-in book, a 2011 calendar and the film soundtrack featuring the song "A Wish Comes True Everyday," sung by Ryan, who plays lead character Abby Jensen. Borders is also featuring the necklace with key chain Abby wears in the movie, as well as a colorful T-shirt, light-up journal, movie poster, magnetic bookmarks and more that fans will love to make part of their "16 Wishes" movie collection. The film also stars Jean-Luc Bilodeau as Jay Kepler, Abby's best friend.

In addition to offering hot merchandise, Borders has also created a special "16-Wishes" landing page at www.bordersmedia.com/backlot/16wishes.asp, where fans can enjoy the movie trailer, exclusive interviews with Ryan and Bilodeau as well as the music video for "A Wish Comes True Everyday." In addition, Borders recently hosted Ryan and Bilodeau in its Century City, Calif. Borders store for a signing and Q&A session with more than 200 fans.

"As a retailer that provides inspiration and entertainment for our customers, we often create powerful statements around movies and books we and our customers feel passionate about through in-store events, exclusive merchandise, a great Web presence and high visibility in our e-mails that go to millions of our Borders Rewards loyalty program members. '16 Wishes' is a film we believe will really resonate with our teen and tween customers, which is why we are putting our marketing force behind it. We can't wait for our customers to begin enjoying all of the great products we are offering in conjunction with the film," said Gary Bale, Senior Vice President of Non-Book Merchandise for Borders.

About "16 Wishes"

Eager to grow up, Abby has been planning for her Sweet 16th birthday ever since she was a little girl.  When the big day finally arrives, she excitedly adds her sixteenth and final wish to the secret wish list she's been keeping.  Then begins the first of many unusual occurrences that day, each including visits from a peculiar woman, Celeste, who first appears to deliver a mysterious box of 16 birthday candles.

Her birthday gets a whole lot brighter when Abby realizes that the candles correspond to her 16 wishes, and that they're each coming true -- she lands the attention of her crush, she gets back at her lifelong nemesis Krista Cook and is suddenly fashionable, athletic and popular.  But when one wish goes horribly awry, it changes everything, even her relationship with best friend Jay, leading Abby to finally understand that being a kid isn't so bad.

"16 Wishes" also stars Anna Mae Routledge ("Harper's Island") as Celeste and Karissa Tynes ("Aliens in America") as Krista Cook. The movie was produced by MarVista Entertainment, written by Annie DeYoung (Disney Channel's "StarStruck," "Princess Protection Program") and directed by Peter DeLuise ("Stargate SG-1").   MarVista Entertainment's Michael D. Jacobs ("Boy Meets World") and Fernando Szew ("Deadly Honeymoon") served as Executive Producers along with co-production partner Ron French ("Battlestar Galactica") from Unity Pictures Group. MarVista's Robyn Snyder ("Deadly Honeymoon") serves as Producer.  

About MarVista Entertainment

MarVista Entertainment (www.marvista.net), a leading Los Angeles-based independent producer-distributor of features, children's and family programming, globally licenses television series, movies, documentaries and direct-to-DVD programming to multiple platforms throughout the world.  Founded in September 2003 by Joseph Szew, now COO and CFO; CEO Fernando Szew; President Michael D. Jacobs; and Executive VP George Port,  MarVista's library features more than 2,000 hours of programming. The company has become a leader in providing television movies to major cable networks in the U.S., including over 20 telefilms for Lifetime, Hallmark Channel, NBC Universal and ABC Family that generated extensive global terrestrial and pay television sales.  Earlier this year, MarVista formed a production and distribution alliance with SNAP TV in Argentina.

About Borders Group, Inc.

Headquartered in Ann Arbor, Mich., through its subsidiaries Borders Group, Inc. (NYSE: BGP) is a leading specialty retailer of books as well as other educational and entertainment items. The company employs approximately 19,500 throughout the U.S., primarily in its Borders® and Waldenbooks® stores. Online shopping is offered through borders.com. Find author interviews and vibrant discussions of the products we and our customers are passionate about online at facebook.com/borders, twitter.com/borders and youtube.com/bordersmedia. For more information about the company, visit borders.com/media.

SOURCE Borders