The BFI London Film Festival has opened its press and PR tender for PR agencies to pitch for the contract(s) for the 2011 festival.

The selected agency or agencies will work from April with the BFI for the festival’s overall PR strategy, media relations, press accreditation and screenings, red carpet media management and media partnerships. The agency will also work alongside the BFI’s in-house PR team.

Shortlisted agencies will be invited for in-person pitches with the BFI team led by festival artistic director Sandra Hebron.

Premier PR has handled the PR for the LFF since 2000, after pitching for/retaining the account in 2005. Freud Communications has managed the opening and closing galas for the past decade. These agencies could be eligible to be rehired during the pitching process, which is a mandatory competitive tendering process as part of the BFI’s role as a government funded organisation.

Sandra Hebron, Artistic Director, BFI London Film Festival said: “The 54th BFI London Film Festival in 2010 broke all previous records for attendance and media coverage and this was aided by an impressive press campaign that really got us noticed, both in the UK and internationally. Both Premier PR as our lead agency, and Freud Communications, who ran our Opening and Closing night Galas, have done fantastic jobs in raising the profile of the LFF with flair, professionalism and a deep understanding of the film industry. We look forward to inviting them back to pitch and also welcome new voices and fresh thinking from a selection of other agencies.”

The 55th BFI LFF will run Oct 12-27.

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