SYFY'S HIT SERIES "FACE OFF" COMES BACK WITH A SUPER-SIZED TWO EPISODE PREMIERE FEATURING THE "RETURN OF THE CHAMPIONS"

SEASON 8 PREMIERES TUESDAY, JANUARY 13 AT 9 PM ET/PT ON SYFY

Premiere Features Makeup Legend and Academy Award-Winner Rick Baker (American Werewolf in London, Planet of the Apes, Men in Black) and the Return of Judge Ve Neill (The Hunger Games)

NEW YORK - November 20, 2014 - Syfy's critically-acclaimed reality competition series Face Off - the network's most watched unscripted series - will return on Tuesday, January 13 at 9PM for an action-packed eighth season themed "Return of the Champions." In a twist on the show's traditional format, three former champions, Rayce Bird (Season 2), Anthony Kosar (Season 4) and Laura Tyler (Season 5), will return in the premiere and select teams of five new artists who they will coach throughout the season.

Additionally, the Season 8 premiere will be super-sized over two episodes. At the end of premiere, host McKenzie Westmore delivers a challenge twist in lieu of an elimination, forcing the action of the premiere to carry over into the next week's episode. Makeup super-legend and seven-time Academy Award-winner Rick Baker (makeup artist for American Werewolf in London, The Men in Black trilogy, Michael Jackson's Thriller, Planet of the Apes) will appear in both episodes, first mentoring the artists and then appearing as a guest judge.

In a first for the series, Season 8 will feature an instant "watch and win" sweepstakes. During each episode, fans will be prompted to discuss who their favorite contestant is by using Twitter - making them automatically eligible to win a weekly prize. At the end of each episode, one lucky fan will be announced in an on air spot, on Twitter and featured on the Face Off show site on Syfy.com.

Season 8 will also feature the full-time return of fan-favorite and Academy Award-winning judge, Ve Neill, who recently wrapped work on The Hunger Games franchise.

Face Off is a competition/elimination series exploring the world of special-effects make-up artists and the unlimited imagination that allows them to create amazing works of living art. As a member of the multi-generational family dynasty whose name is synonymous with the make-up effects field, actress McKenzie Westmore brings expertise to her role as host of the series. Some of SFX world's most celebrated figures judge the competition - multiple Academy Award-winner Ve Neill (The Hunger Games, Pirates of the Caribbean), industry veteran Glenn Hetrick (CSI: New York, Heroes, Legion), and creature designer Neville Page (Avatar, Prometheus). World-renowned Hollywood makeup artist Michael Westmore (Star Trek) serves as the contestant mentor.

The Face Off contestants will be whittled down week by week, until only three remain for a finale showdown. The winning artist will receive $100,000, a 2015 Fiat and a VIP package courtesy of Kryolan Professional Make-Up to one of their 85 international locations. Kryolan Professional Make-Up continues as the official make-up sponsor of Face Off.

To find out more about the cast of Season 8, see bios, photo galleries and video, visit www.syfy.com/faceoff. Photography and bios are also available at www.nbcumv.com.

Below are the Season 8 Face Off participants:

CONTESTANTS

Adam Milicevic Age: 30 Hometown: Merrillville, IN Residence: Orlando, FL / Osaka, Japan Twitter: @acivicdilemma

Alan Carnes Age: 32 Hometown: Weaverville, CA Residence: Redding, CA Twitter: @gothicnytfx

Anthony Reyes Age: 20 Hometown: Shohola, PA Residence: New York, NY Twitter: @makeupbyaer

Benjamin Peter Age: 32 Hometown: Centerville, OH Residence: West Carrolton, OH Twitter: @BenjaminJPeter

Daniel Pardo Age: 38 Hometown: Sao Paulo, Brazil Residence: Atlanta, GA Twitter: @DanielPrado_

Darla Edin Age: 28 Hometown: St. Louis Park, MN Residence: Minneapolis, MN Twitter: @Darla_Edin

Emily Serpico Age: 18 Hometown: West Palm Beach, FL Residence: Wellington, FL Twitter: @emilyserpico

Gregory Hewitt Age: 36 Hometown: Supply, NC Residence: Charlotte, NC Twitter: @gregoryahewett

Jamie Leodones Age: 30 Hometown: Alberta, Canada Residence: Burbank, CA Twitter: @jaeraele

Julian Bonfiglio Age: 25 Hometown: Fremont, CA Residence: San Francisco, CA Occupation: Freelance FX Artist Twitter: @JulianBonfigli0

Kelly Harris Age: 24 Hometown: Columbus, OH Residence: Columbus, OH Twitter: @KellyKillsYou

Logan Long Age: 29 Hometown: Salt Lake City, UT Residence: Salt Lake City, UT Twitter: @loganladdie

Regina Jiganti Age: 24 Hometown: Hinsdale, IL Residence: Burbank, CA Twitter: @rjiganti

Rob Miller Age: 41 Hometown: Monroe, MI Residence: Monroe, MI Twitter: @robmillerart

Stephanie Masco Age: 21 Hometown: Plainfield, IL Residence: Plainfield, IL Twitter: @jeanmasco

CHAMPIONS

Anthony Kosar Age: 29 Hometown: Chicago, IL Residence: Chicago, IL Twitter: @kosarteffects SEASON 4 CHAMPION

Laura Tyler Age: 30 Hometown: Orlando, FL Residence: Orlando, FL Twitter: @laurartist84 SEASON 5 CHAMPION

Rayce Bird Age: 32 Hometown: Shelley, ID Residence: Moscow, ID Twitter: @RayceBird SEASON 2 CHAMPION

Face Off is a production of Mission Control Media with Dwight D. Smith, Michael Agbabian and Derek Atherton serving as executive producers.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/faceoffsyfy Twitter: @FaceOffSyfy Instagram: www.instagram.com/syfy Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/syfytv

Syfy is a media destination for imagination-based entertainment. With year round acclaimed original series, events, blockbuster movies, classic science fiction and fantasy programming, a dynamic Web site (www.Syfy.com), and a portfolio of adjacent business (Syfy Ventures), Syfy is a passport to limitless possibilities. Originally launched in 1992 as SCI FI Channel, and currently in 96 million homes, Syfy is a network of NBCUniversal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation. (Syfy. Imagine Greater.)