Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), continues to support global arts and culture by becoming one of the main partners of the Zurich Film Festival, which takes place from 24 September to 4 October 2015.

The sponsorship deal will see Etihad Airways’ brand prominently featured at various locations around the Zurich Film Festival venue and integrated into the festival’s campaign on print, digital, cinema, TV, radio and outdoor channels. The airline has also been announced as the exclusive partner of a green carpet gala premiere, a talent competition for aspiring filmmakers and the International Film Music Competition.

In conjunction with Etihad Regional, airberlin and Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority, Etihad Airways will be running a range of exciting promotions in an exclusive film lounge at the popular Festival Centre - a hub for thousands of festival visitors every year. 

As part of the partnership, Etihad Airways and its partner airlines will fly many of the high-profile international celebrities, industry figures and media representatives to Zurich, and giving them an opportunity to experience the airlines’ award-winning products and services.

An Etihad Airways mobile product display unit will also be present at the festival showcasing the airline’s new First, Business and Economy Class products, services, and brand experience to the festival attendees.

Etihad Airways’ Chief Commercial Officer, Peter Baumgartner, said: “This agreement demonstrates our active support of global cultural events, engagement in the local communities we serve, and reinforces our long-term commitment to the Swiss market, which we have been serving since 2004. 

“We are proud to announce this partnership and fly international personalities to one of the biggest cultural events in Switzerland. Travellers from more than 50 cities around the world can conveniently reach Zurich and Geneva using Etihad Airways’ daily flights, and the domestic and regional European services of our partner airlines, airberlin, Niki, Alitalia, Air Serbia and Etihad Regional.”

Now in its eleventh year, the Zurich Film Festival will showcase diverse stories from around the world with screenings of nearly 130 films, offering cinematic treats to 79,000 national and international visitors. Participants include both emerging and renowned filmmakers as well as buyers, sellers, distributors, media professionals and industry leaders.

The festival is internationally recognised and attracts illustrious personalities on its green carpet every year, including Hollywood celebrities Cate Blanchett, Hugh Jackman, Richard Gere, Sylvester Stallone, John Travolta, Susan Sarandon, Oliver Stone, Sean Penn, Diane Keaton and many more.

Welcoming the deal, Nadja Schildknecht and Karl Spoerri, Zurich Film Festival’s Co-Directors, said: “We are very excited about our partnership with a global brand like Etihad Airways, which is underpinned by a shared vision of bringing people together from across the globe through arts and culture.

“In only 11 years, the Zurich Film Festival has achieved huge recognition within the film fraternity, and continues to attract A-list celebrities and industry heavyweights to one of Europe’s most picturesque cities.”