Services for journalists

London, 11 October 2005
FDA launches new screenings calendar for British Academy voters at launchingfilms.com

Film Distributors’ Association (FDA), the trade body for UK theatrical distributors, this week launches a brand new calendar of screenings for BAFTA voters on its main website, www.launchingfilms.com. This will be live throughout the 2005/06 awards season.

Compiled by FDA, the online facility is accessible only to current film voting members of the British Academy of Film & Television Arts (BAFTA), who must enter a valid password on the FDA homepage to gain entry to the new section.

Once there, voters will find a current calendar spanning the four months October 2005–January 2006, with details of screenings day by day, their timings, locations and other information.

Film titles in the calendar can all link to dedicated websites, as specified by the individual distributor, which voters may choose to visit to top up their knowledge of particular productions.

The new website section was developed and built for FDA by Skywire Ltd, the Notting Hill-based consultancy that also numbers Jimmy Choo and Dior among its clients. Launchingfilms.com consistently attracts 30,000 visitors, and an average of 420,000 page impressions, per month.

BAFTA Chairman, Duncan Kenworthy OBE, said:

"We believe this initiative delivers benefits to our members and film distributors alike. There are many films to see for consideration in the Orange British Academy Film Awards at this time of year, and a central screenings calendar and reservation system that is maintained and kept up-to-date by the distributors who are putting on these additional screenings will be invaluable to our members.

If members want to access further information about the films that are being screened, they can do so. We're pleased that FDA has established this new site and I wish it every success."

FDA Chief Executive, Mark Batey, added:

“The new calendar is very easy to navigate and we hope it will quickly establish itself as an essential check-in point among voters attending the busy season of screenings just under way. We’re grateful to BAFTA for their help and support, and hope to develop this generic resource in future years.”

Contact for further information

Mark Batey , FDA Chief Executive
Email mbatey@fda.uk.net
Tel 020 7437 4383

Online:

• As well as its main website, www.launchingfilms.com, FDA runs www.cinemadays.com for UK regional film journalists.
• BAFTA’s own website is www.bafta.org which will link to FDA’s www.launchingfilms.com.
• Further information on Skywire is available at www.skywire.co.uk.