California Tourism partners with Vue Cinemas

California Tourism has partnered with Vue Cinemas to sponsor preview screenings of blockbuster films in 2008. Films, kicking off with Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, starring Johnny Depp, on the 19th of January, will be shown at Vue Cinemas across the country prior to general release, allowing cinema-goers the opportunity to see some of the biggest releases of 2008 first.

“California is the very heart of the entertainment industry and is home to many of the world’s leading actors and actresses,” says Caroline Beteta, Executive Director of the California Travel & Tourism Commission (CTTC). “The allure of Hollywood and the film industry’s ripple effect across the entire state are part of what makes California one of the top travel destinations in the world. We are thrilled that our partnership with Vue Cinemas will allow cinema-goers in the UK the opportunity to see major movies before anyone else.’

Films currently scheduled to be part of the campaign include*:

Sweeney Todd: on 19, 20 and 24 January starring Johnny Depp
Rambo starring Sylvester Stallone
Fools Gold starring Matthew McConaughey
Iron Man starring Robert Downey Jr.
Tropic Thunder starring Ben Stiller

The partnership is supported by a microsite which can be accessed via the Visitcalifornia.co.uk homepage. Here visitors will find up-to-date information including venues and screening dates for all the films being previewed, as well as the opportunity to win the holiday of a lifetime to California.

California is the home of the movies, with the current TV advertising campaign highlighting just a few of the famous faces associated with the state, including Vanessa Williams, Rob Lowe and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The prize includes flights, accommodation in Los Angeles and VIP tickets to Universal Studios in Hollywood, where blockbusters including Pirates of the Caribbean and Spiderman were filmed.

Mark de Quervain, Sales and Marketing Manager of Vue Entertainment, says "We're delighted to have California Tourism on board to help promote our previews. With their Hollywood heritage and great contacts in the travel industry, we're really positive about the association. The selection of films they have chosen are all potential blockbusters for 2008, so the previews present a fantastic opportunity for California to gain association with the first public showings of the films."

To find out more about the previews or for information about visiting California log on to Visitcalifornia.co.uk.

* Films subject to change