May Fair Hotel to play a starring role during London Film Festival
The May Fair Hotel has been named as the official hotel of The Times BFI 53rd London Film Festival. As part of a yearlong agreement with the British Film Institute, The May Fair will play host to a 15-day long celebration of cinema during October.
“The May Fair Hotel has become increasingly synonymous with the film and entertainment industry. It was therefore the obvious choice to become our official hotel,” said Sandra Hebron, Artistic Director of the BFI Festivals. “We will have excellent venues for our parties, first class suites and rooms for our VIPs, and access to one of London’s largest and best equipped private cinemas.”
Commenting on the partnership with the BFI, Charles Oak, general manager at The May Fair Hotel, said: “Over the coming year we will be hosting regular events with the BFI from cultivation dinners to events for The Times BFI 53rd London Film Festival itself, and are delighted to be so integral to the story of the film festival. Over the years, the May Fair Hotel has become intertwined with the film and entertainment industry and we are thrilled to have a natural partnership with such a British institution.”
He continued; “The May Fair is an iconic hotel and one that is, and always has been, synonymous with the film and entertainment industry. The previous heyday of this iconic hotel was, perhaps, the 50s when, again, it was the playground of film stars and their entourages. The May Fair Hotel dates back to 1927 and in 1957 the American Danziger brothers, film impresarios who had founded the New Elstree studios, bought the hotel. Our relationship with the BFI and the London Film Festival is us going back to our roots.”
The Times BFI 53rd London Film Festival runs from 14 – 29 October. This highly regarded and anticipated event in Europe's cultural calendar attracts leading international filmmakers, industry professionals and the media together with large public audiences to London for a two-week showcase of the best in contemporary world cinema.
The famous May Fair Hotel dates back to the Twenties and is renowned for its royal connections and famous guest. Following a £75 million rejuvenation programme, the May Fair Hotel is now one of the finest hotels in London.
Once owned by American movie producers, the Danziger brothers, The May Fair returns to its roots with its new relationship with the BFI and the London Film Festival. A key hotel feature that attracted the film festival is The May Fair’s THX-certified theatre featuring 201 Ferrari leather-trimmed seats, new 3-D capability and an ARS (audio response system) console built into each seat.
For more information visit themayfairhotel.co.uk or follow at twitter.com/themayfairhotel or youtube.com/themayfairhotel.
