MICHAEL MOORE - CUOMO BLOCKED FROM FAHRENHEIT APPEAL

LATEST: MICHAEL MOORE has learned backers of his documentary FAHRENHEIT 9/11 will have to face America's film ratings appeal board today (22JUN04) without their newly hired legal aide, former New York Governor MARIO CUOMO. According to the MOTION PICTURE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA's (MPAA) rules, Cuomo is not allowed to take part in the proceedings to lower the R rating of documentary FAHRENHEIT 9/11 because those appearing before the board must be directly associated with the film.

Without Cuomo by his side, LIONS GATE FILMS president TOM ORTENBERG - whose company is distributing Fahrenheit 9/11 with IFC FILMS and MIRAMAX co-chairmen BOB and HARVEY WEINSTEIN's FELLOWSHIP ADVENTURE GROUP - will appeal for a PG-13 rating instead of the R that the MPAA has awarded the film for its "violent and disturbing images and for language".

A decision expected by this afternoon. It opens exclusively in New York tomorrow (23JUN04), debuting across America on Friday (25JUN04).