Public relations services

Tender description

The BFI London Film Festival (LFF) is Britain's leading film event and one of the world's best film festivals. Due to the growth of the LFF in recent years, in 2017 the BFI divided the PR contract for the first time, and recruited for greater in-house resource to accommodate the Festival’s broadened scope and remit. The contract remains split with this contract for the main programme, awards and events now reconfigured, with additional elements taken in-house (accreditation and PandI screenings) and a new brief. As such, this contract is now being re-tendered. Agencies are invited to pitch for this contract and, alongside the requisite skill set and expertise, must demonstrate adequate resources to satisfy the brief. The BFI London Film Festival (LFF) is Britain's leading film event and one of the world's best film festivals. It introduces the finest new British and international films to an expanding London and UK-wide audience and attracts significant international film industry participation. LFF is a compelling combination of red carpet glamour, friendly audiences and vibrant exchange. LFF provides an essential profiling opportunity for films seeking global success; promotes the careers of British and international filmmakers through its industry and awards programmes and positions London as the world’s leading creative city. The 2016 LFF screened 397 feature, documentary, shorts, animation and archive films, 6 LFF Connects events and 4 Screen Talks. The LFF welcomed more than 800 British and international filmmakers and catered for over 2 000 press and industry delegates. The LFF’s annual Awards celebrates the film in Official Competition at the LFF, with categories for Best Film, Best First Feature, Best Documentary and Best Short Film. A BFI Fellowship is also awarded at this event, held on the last Saturday of the LFF. UK wide audience attendance for the 2017 61st edition reached 208 900, an 8 % increase from 193 000 in 2016. Due to the growth of the LFF in recent years, in 2017 the BFI divided the PR contract for the first time, and recruited for greater in-house resource to accommodate the Festival’s broadened scope and remit. The contract remains split with this contract for the main programme, awards and events now reconfigured, with additional elements taken in-house (accreditation and P&I screenings) and a new brief. As such, this contract is now being re-tendered. Agencies are invited to pitch for this contract and, alongside the requisite skill set and expertise, must demonstrate adequate resources to satisfy the brief. The external PR agency will work alongside the BFI press office, Festival team and incumbent PR agency working on the LFF’s other press and PR contract (Headline Galas) to manage and deliver effective PR and publicity across all media platforms and incorporating consumer and trade media. The scope of work includes press and publicity relating to: — LFF main programme, including the Strand Galas and Official and Competition* — Screen Talks* — LFF Connects, — LFF Awards *Important: this contract excludes the LFF’s Headline Galas and Special Presentations – including opening and closing night and screen talks which involve talent connected to those Headline Galas.