BA and BAFTA Partner to Help British Talent Take Off

British Airways is proud to announce its partnership with the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) as part of its commitment to helping British talent take off.

To mark the launch, British Airways and BAFTA are hosting an invite-only ‘Silent Picturehouse’ at Vinopolis in London from February 17 – 19, introduced by Edith Bowman and George Lamb. The evening will showcase the five ‘Outstanding British Films’ nominated for a BAFTA at this year’s Orange British Academy Film Awards. The films will be played simultaneously on big screens with wireless headsets to tune in. The five films are An Education, In the Loop, Fish Tank, Moon and Nowhere Boy.

Luisa Fernandez, British Airways global sponsorship manager, said: “We’re thrilled to be working with BAFTA to help British talent take off. We’re hosting the Silent Picturehouse event to celebrate the Best of British - the first time anything like this has been done.”

The value-in-kind partnership will allow British Airways to have access to BAFTA content for its in-flight entertainment, presence at award ceremonies and support of the BA Great Britons Programme. In return the airline will provide flights to enable nominated talent to attend BAFTA events, including the forthcoming Film Awards on February 21.

Amanda Berry, CEO of BAFTA said: “We are delighted to be partnering with British Airways. The partnership will allow us to reach a truly global audience every day through their in flight networks and their support for our Awards and Events will be invaluable.”

This latest partnership reinforces the airline’s ongoing support for British talent. It currently operates the BA Great Britons Programme - a £500,000 travel fund offering budding talent to realise their dreams with free flights - www.greatbritons.ba.com

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Notes to Editors:

• British Airways is the official airline partner of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and launched the BA Great Britons programme as part of its commitment to helping British talent to take off, and creating a lasting legacy.
• The Orange British Academy Awards will be hosted by Jonathan Ross and broadcast on BBC One from 9pm on Sunday 21 February. A Red Carpet Special hosted by George Lamb will be on BBC Three from 7.30pm. Edith Bowman will be on the red carpet for BAFTA web.
• BAFTA is the leading independent charity in the UK supporting, developing and promoting the art forms of the moving image. Find out how we are inspiring the next generation of talent in the film, television and video games industries.
• Vinopolis is located at 1 Bank End, London, SE1 9BU

For further information, or images from the red carpet of the Silent Picture House, please contact:

British Airways:
Sophia Antoniades, Consumer PR Manager
0208 738 7330 or Sophia.antoniades@ba.com , or the BA press office on 0208 738 5100

Freud Communications:
Jo Fernihough, Account Director on 02030036386 or johanna.fernihough@freud.com
Vicky Grayson, Account Manager on 020 3003 6327 or vicky.grayson@freud.com

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