Cunard Line Sets Sail With Tribeca Film Festival

Cunard Line Sets Sail With Tribeca Film Festival

SOUTHAMPTON, England, April 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Cunard Line announces a new partnership with New York's Tribeca Film Festival, scheduled 22 April - 3 May, drawing film enthusiasts for two weeks of premiere screenings, events and industry programmes. Among other distinctions, Cunard is recognized as the Official Cruise Line of the Festival.

A multi-faceted association, the partnership begins with Cunard sponsoring the World Documentary Competition for the 2009 Festival and then later this year will bring elements of the Tribeca Film Festival experience to the high-seas with original enrichment programming aboard the line's flagship Queen Mary 2 during a legendary Transatlantic Crossing.

"For decades, Cunard has enjoyed a rewarding connection to the film industry, playing host to generations of Hollywood luminaries and supporting myriad of programmes to promote and advance original work in film and the arts," said Carol Marlow, president of Cunard Line. "This partnership further underscores our commitment to crafting stimulating onboard experiences that speak to the interests of our guests. We look forward to working with the Tribeca Film Festival to further expand the international audience for independent film."

Cunard Insights ~ Exclusive Tribeca Programming

Tribeca Film Festival (TFF) will provide exclusive enrichment programming aboard Queen Mary 2's 5 November 2009 and 29 April 2010 Transatlantic Crossings in association with Cunard Insights, the line's award winning enrichment programme. Established and emerging actors, directors, documentarians and screenwriters will be tapped to engage guests in thought-provoking discussion about the love of their craft and the multi-dimensions of movie making. TFF fans can enter for a chance to win a free voyage on the 5 November Transatlantic Crossing that will feature TFF original programming online at www.cunard.com/tribeca.

World Documentary Competition

Though the Tribeca Film Festival screens more than 80 films this year, documentaries are one of the festival's strong suits. This year, Cunard will be the sponsor of the festival's World Documentary Competition in which 12 films and their filmmakers will compete for Best Documentary Film and Best New Documentary Filmmaker.

One of these films will win the 2009 Best Documentary Award to be announced on Thursday, 30 April and in addition to prize money awarded by TFF, Cunard will present the grand prize documentary filmmaker with a Transatlantic voyage on Queen Mary 2.

"Tribeca is proud of its strong documentary lineup and we think we have found a perfect partner in Cunard to support these films. We look forward to working with them throughout the year onboard, bringing their guests our distinctive conversations," said Nancy Schafer, executive director of the Tribeca Film Festival.

Partnering with the Tribeca Film Festival is one of a growing number of unique and relevant enrichment initiatives created by Cunard. Other programmes and partnerships under the Insights banner include performances and workshops with the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, best-selling authors in the Literature & Liners Series and Cunard Book Club, Science at Sea with Oxford University Press, and the Royal Astronomical Society.

For more information about Cunard and Queen Mary 2, contact your travel professional, call 1-800-7-CUNARD or visit www.cunard.com.

About Cunard Line

Cunard Line, operator of the luxury ocean liners Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria, has long been synonymous with the quest for new discoveries and the epitome of British refinement since the company's first paddle-wheeled steamer, Britannia, crossed the Atlantic in 1840. Cunard voyages bring together like-minded travelers who seek a civilized adventure and relish the Cunard hallmarks of impeccable White Star Service(TM), gourmet dining and world-class entertainment. Today, Cunard offers the only regularly scheduled Transatlantic liner service and continues the legacy of world cruising which it began in 1922. A new Queen Elizabeth joins the fleet in October 2010.

Cunard Line is a proud member of World's Leading Cruise Lines. The exclusive alliance also includes Carnival Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Costa Cruises and The Yachts of Seabourn. Sharing a passion to please each guest, and a commitment to quality and value, member lines appeal to a wide range of lifestyles and budgets. Together they offer exciting and enriching cruise vacations to the world's most desirable destinations.

About the Tribeca Film Festival

Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff founded the Tribeca Film Festival in 2001 following the attacks on the World Trade Center, New York City to spur the economic and cultural revitalization of the lower Manhattan district through an annual celebration of film, music and culture. The Festival's mission is to help filmmakers reach the broadest possible audience, enable the international film community and general public to experience the power of cinema and promote New York City as a major filmmaking center. Tribeca Film Festival is well known for being a diverse international film festival that supports emerging and established directors. The Tribeca Festival has screened over 1100 films from over 80 countries since its first festival in 2002. Since its founding, it has attracted an international audience of more than two million attendees and has generated over $530 million in economic activity for New York City.

Source: Cunard Line

CONTACT: Jackie Chase, +1-661-753-1035, jchase@cunard.com, or Brian
O'Connor, +1-661-753-1060, boconnor@cunard.com, both of Cunard Line

Web Site: http://www.tribecafilm.com/festival
http://www.cunard.com/

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