BFI ANNOUNCES NEW PR STRUCTURE AND AGENCY TEAM FOR 62ND BFI LONDON FILM FESTIVAL

The BFI has appointed DDA to provide Press and PR services for the Main Programme, Awards and Events contract for the 62nd BFI London Film Festival (LFF), in association with American Express,taking place at venues across the capital from 10 – 21 October 2018.

DDA already handle the LFF’s Headline Galas contract (which has been renewed for 3 years until LFF 2020), and this additional brief is focused on the PR and publicity campaign for the Festival’s Main Programme of circa 230 feature films including the LFF Competitive Sections and Awards, the Events Programme, including LFF Connects, which explores film’s intersection with other creative industries and art forms.

The Main Programme is structured into Strands – Love, Thrill, Debate, Dare, Laugh, Cult, Create, Journey, Family and Experimenta. Rob Deacon will be DDA’s Head of Press for the new brief.

This is in addition to DDA managing the PR campaign and red carpet media management for the Festival’s 12 Headline Galas, including Opening and Closing Nights, and its Special Presentation screenings. Kate Hudson will return to DDA as Head of Press for this brief for the second year. DDA Live has also been renewed for the LFF Gala Production contract. With many years of expertise in producing high-profile red carpet events, they will manage for a second year the logistics, implementation and production of the LFF’s Headline Gala and Special Presentation screenings.

The BFI has also appointed Mia Farrell, having worked on the Festival in-house on a temporary contract in 2017 and previously agency-side, to a new permanent in-house role as BFI Festivals PR Manager. Mia will report to BFI Head of Press and PR Judy Wells and work closely with the LFF’s Artistic Director, Tricia Tuttle and the Festival team.  Under Mia’s stewardship the BFI will now handle in-house the press accreditation for approximately 1000 media and the media management of the LFF Press & Industry screening programme.

Mia’s role also incorporates the range of BFI Festivals, including BFI Flare: London LGBTQ+ Film Festival. Press and PR for the LFF’s Industry Programme is also handled in-house by the BFI corporate and industry PR team.