IWC Schaffhausen and BFI set out as storytelling sponsorship partners
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The BFI is pleased to announce that Swiss luxury watch manufacturer IWC Schaffhausen has become a year round official partner. The partnership includes headline sponsorship of the BFI’s Fundraising Gala Luminous – returning in 2015 – and IWC Schaffhausen will also become the Official Time Partner of the BFI and the BFI London Film Festival in partnership with American Express® from 2014. IWC Schaffhausen has a long tradition of support for filmmaking projects with partnerships already in place with the Tribeca Film Festival, the Dubai International Film Festival and the International Film Festival in Beijing.
Amanda Nevill, CEO BFI, said “IWC Schaffhausen is an organisation that shares the BFI’s values of creativity, passion and ambition, and we look forward very much to working with them to bring these values to life in programmes that are vital in supporting film culture, will entertain so many people and provide life enduring memories. It is exciting to be at the start of a partnership that holds so much promise.”
IWC CEO Georges Kern, said “For many years now, we have had a passion for cinema. Every director tells a story with his films. At IWC, storytelling is part of the DNA of everything we do. It is therefore an absolute honour and privilege to be associated with such a highly regarded institution and a film festival which has depth and substance and that is globally renowned and respected,” comments IWC CEO Georges Kern. “Our desire is to nurture this incredibly special relationship, build an exceptional partnership, and to create and deliver impeccable events. Our brands share many qualities, such as a long history, a proud heritage and a passion for cinema. I believe that these qualities will continue to be nourished and communicated in the years ahead.“
After a hugely successful inaugural event in October 2013 IWC Schaffhausen joins film heavyweights supporting the BFI’s Fundraising Gala Luminous to become the event’s headline sponsor when it returns in 2015. This unique event, in London, celebrates British film and film talent and will feature a charity auction and uniquely commissioned live and filmed creative content. Luminousd attracted some of the biggest names from in front and behind the cameras (including Martin Scorsese, Idris Elba, Damien Lewis, Jude Law, Sienna Miller, Ray Winstone and Olivia Coleman) and raised £250,000 for the BFI National Archive.
From 2014 this partnership also sees IWC Schaffhausen join the family of supporters for the iconic BFI London Film Festival in October 2014 when the festival will bring the best new British and international films to an expanding London and UK-wide audience. 2013’s festival has been widely regarded as one of the strongest programmes in recent years, screening a total of 235 fiction and documentary features, including 22 World Premieres, 13 International Premieres and 29 European Premieres from 74 countries and guests including Tom Hanks, Judi Dench, Johnny Depp, Kate Winslet, Emma Thompson, Sandra Bullock, Paul Greengrass, Joel and Ethan Coen and Ralph Fiennes. IWC Schaffhausen will celebrate their partnership with the Festival and the BFI with a star-studded dinner, in honour of the BFI, ahead of the 2014 BFI London Film Festival.
