NEW YORK, April 5 /PRNewswire/ -- The Weinstein Company, Bravo, and Miramax are pleased to announce that Tim Gunn will return for the fourth season of the Emmy-nominated premier fashion design reality series PROJECT RUNWAY. Gunn will re-join the show as a mentor along with the panel of judges including designer Michael Kors, ELLE Magazine fashion director Nina Garcia and supermodel Heidi Klum. Klum will also return as host of the series, which is the most watched show on Bravo in the history of the cable network. The joint announcement was made today by Harvey Weinstein, Co-Chairman of The Weinstein Company and Lauren Zalaznick, President of Bravo.


The Weinstein Company and Miramax are co-producing the show through their co-financing agreement. The Weinstein Company is the lead studio and is handling worldwide distribution.


Tim Gunn stated, "I am thrilled to make it official that I will be back in the workroom for season four of 'Project Runway'. We're in the midst of casting the designers now and I can already see that it will be another amazing season."


Harvey Weinstein stated, "We could not be more excited that Tim is back to mentor and inspire this season's crop of aspiring designers. His passion, creativity and dedication to the contestants and the world of fashion have helped make the show such a commercial and critical success."


Bradley Buchanan, vice president of business and legal affairs for The Weinstein Company, negotiated the deal on behalf of Project Runway. UTA and Eric Weissler of Jackoway Tyerman Wertheimer Austen Mandelbaum & Morris represented Tim Gunn in negotiations.


PROJECT RUNWAY gives aspiring designers a chance to break into the notoriously difficult-to-crack fashion world. Each week, a designer is eliminated from the competition after exhibiting their work in front of the panel of judges. The second and third seasons of this breakout series have generated critical acclaim and record ratings. The series has consistently been the top show on cable on Wednesdays among key demographics and has shattered the records set by the finale of season one. The series has been Wednesday's number one show on cable among adults 18-49.


Open calls for designers interested in competing in the fourth season of PROJECT RUNWAY are being held in New York, Los Angeles, Miami and Chicago. For more details including dates, locations and official rules, applicants may visit www.ProjectRunway.com or www.BravoTV.com.


PROJECT RUNWAY is executive produced by Dan Cutforth, Jane Lipsitz and Rich Bye of Magical Elves ("Project Greenlight," "Last Comic Standing," "Top Chef"). Heidi Klum, Desiree Gruber and Jane Cha of NYC-based Full Picture also executive produce the series. Barbara Schneeweiss will oversee the production on behalf of The Weinstein Company.