2009 BIFA Award Sponsors

UK Film Council

The UK Film Council is the lead agency for film in the UK ensuring that the economic, cultural and educational aspects of film are effectively represented at home and abroad. We invest Government grant-in-aid and Lottery money in film development and production; skills development; international development and export promotion; distribution and exhibition; and education. Our aim is to deliver lasting benefits to the industry and the public alike through:

CREATIVITY - encouraging the development of new talent, skills, and creative and technological innovation in UK film and assisting new and established filmmakers to produce successful and distinctive British films;

ENTERPRISE - supporting the creation and growth of sustainable businesses in the film sector, providing access to finance and helping the UK film industry compete successfully in the domestic and global marketplace;

IMAGINATION - promoting education and an appreciation and enjoyment of cinema by giving UK audiences access to the widest range of UK and international cinema, and by supporting film culture and heritage

Major Funding Partner

Raindance

Raindance is unique.

Founded in 1992, it has become Britain's leading independent film organisation, hosting training courses on all aspects of film production, and organising the Raindance Film Festival each October. By combining both training and exhibition directly, Raindance sets out to promote both independent films and filmmaking to a wider public.

In 2007, Raindance launched internet distribution platform http://www.raindance.tv/

We are proud to be the founding sponsors of the British Independent Film Awards.

Founding Sponsor

3 Mills Studios

3 Mills Studios is London’s largest Studio.

Just seven miles from central London, 3 Mills Studios is nestled on a picturesque and secure island oasis in the heart of London’s famous East End.

This unique studio is emerging as the home for stop motion animation in the UK as well as being discovered by some of the most successful independent filmmakers including Wes Anderson, Andrea Arnold, Danny Boyle, Tim Burton, David Cronenberg, Stephen Daldry, Mike Leigh, Ken Loach and Michael Winterbottom.

3 Mills Studios delivers a first- class service and extensive on site resources making 3 Mills Studios the ideal filming destination in London

Production services and facilities include:

14 Stages (3,200 sq ft – 13,500 sq ft)
10 Rehearsal Rooms
200+ Production Offices
Locations and exteriors
Extensive production services and ancillary facilities
Excellent transport links
Ample parking

Feature credits include EASTERN PROMISES, FANTASTIC MR FOX, FISH TANK, FRANKENWEENIE, HOW TO LOSE FRIENDS AND ALIENATE PEOPLE, THE READER, SUNSHINE, Tim Burton’s CORPSE BRIDE and many more.

Major Award Sponsor

BBC Films

BBC Films is the feature film-making arm of the BBC. It is firmly established at the forefront of British independent film-making and co-produces approximately eight films a year.

Working in partnership with major international and UK distributors, including Miramax, PolyGram, Fox, Buena Vista, Pathé and UIP, BBC Films aims to make strong British films with range and ambition and is committed to finding and developing new talent, as well as collaborating with some of the foremost writers and directors in the industry, including Roger Michell and Stephen Frears.

As well as cinema features, BBC Films has been responsible for some of the most groundbreaking and acclaimed BBC television dramas in recent years, working with award-winning writer-directors such as Stephen Poliakoff, Dominic Savage and Francesca Joseph.

BBC Films continues its commitment to make British films and television dramas of integrity and ambition while widening its scope to include international and American co-productions.

Major Award Sponsor

Chapter Media

Chapter Media is proud to be the sponsor of the Best Documentary at BIFA. Chapter Media has also developed and is hosting the new BIFA website.

Chapter Media has a rare blend of product development, and technology expertise and has a proven track record in delivering results for content owners such as Robbie Williams, Haymarket Publishing, IE Music and Raindance.tv. We have a network of industry contacts and advanced knowledge of service development, content production and distribution, marketing, and rights management.

This has enabled us to provide compelling strategic and business planning consultancy, content services and websites for brands in the film, music, entertainment and publishing industries across the Web, IPTV and mobile.

Our focus is on simple, high-quality product design that enables our clients to overcome technology, knowledge and resource obstacles, to realise the full potential of their digital media business, in a cost efficient manner.

Major Award Sponsor

M.A.C.

M•A•C Cosmetics is proud to be the official make-up sponsor of BIFA and delighted to be supporting the Best Actress Award at this year's ceremony. They are also sponsoring the 2008 awards' after-party.

M•A•C has become known as the premier make-up brand not only by creating the on-screen looks for top talent, working on-set at photo shoots, backstage at the international fashion shows, behind the scenes at award nights but also by offering 'on-call' services to VIPs, directors, and film talent attending world film festivals, including the Toronto, Dubai, Deauville, Sundance and London film festivals. Since its inception M•A•C has supported over 300 television productions and over 600 independent and feature films including In Bruges, Easy Virtue and Clubbed.

See photos from the 2008 M.A.C. After Party here.

Major Award Sponsor

Optimum Releasing

Major Award Sponsor

Stolichnaya

Stolichnaya, the passionate Russian super-premium vodka, sponsors the British Independent Film Awards After Party with spectacular cocktails.

It celebrates for the first time, Best Actor sponsored by elit by Stolichnaya, and Best Supporting Actor sponsored by Stoli.

Stoli uses the highest quality ingredients and top distillation and filtration processes.

elit by Stolichnaya was the world's first ultra-luxury vodka when launched in 2004 and has been winning acclaim ever since. The Beverage Testing Institute (BTI) noted that it is "extraordinarily smooth, effortlessly drinkable, and totally elegant: a true world class vodka".

Major Award Sponsor

The Creative Partnership

We create movie advertising that gets audiences excited about films. The trick is to convey the excitement of each film in a way that makes people desperate to see it.

Major Award Sponsor

Variety

Variety is the authoritative source of entertainment business news for industry professionals and media journalists around the world. Founded in New York in 1905, Variety has had offices operating in London since 1906, first covering the worlds of live theatre, circuses and music and over the decades broadening their international coverage to include all of the emerging forms of entertainment, including film, radio, television and the still-evolving world of digital content. In 1933 Variety launched Daily Variety in Hollywood and Daily Variety Gotham was added in 1998. A year later Variety.com was established.

Award Sponsor

Soho House

Members' Club Sponsor

Soho House opened in 1995 as an exclusive private members’ club for those in the film and media industries. Located in the heart of Soho, it is a haven away from the bustle of the streets below and a discreet getaway for members to enjoy good food and service.

Since then, the group has expanded with an additional five Houses. This includes Babington House in Somerset, Electric House in Notting Hill, Soho
House New York in New York’s Meat Packing District, High Road House in Chiswick and Shoreditch House in East London. Future sites are planned for
London, West Hollywood, Miami, Berlin and Chicago beginning in 2009.

Members' Club Sponsor