CIFF Vision:

To become a destination film festival

CIFF Mission:

To entertain and enlighten through the experience of film

CIFF Guiding Principles:

international · we bring culturally and artistically diverse films to Calgary

inquisitive · we enrich curious minds

innovative · we advance local filmmakers within our communities

interactive· we provide a unique film experience through our celebratory atmosphere

industry · we promote the film industry

Our Mandate

The Calgary International Film Festival (CIFF) is a leader in arts and cultural innovation and diversity. By building an institutionalized legacy for film and film related events for Calgarians and cinemagoers around the globe, CIFF creates showcase and developmental opportunities for artists and a celebratory atmosphere that promotes awareness for film, the arts, and our stakeholders. CIFF exists to showcase film works that represent the best of the best from film festivals around the world with a special focus on celebrating Alberta-made film.

The History of CIFF

CIFF was founded in 1998 and was registered with Alberta Registries as a not-for-profit organization under the Societies Act, receiving charitable status in 2004. Since its inaugural event in February 1999, CIFF has experienced a significant increase in screenings and films from about 40 films within a 6-day festival format to its present two-weekend, 10-day format with over 300 films. The attendance in the first year was 7,000, which grew to reach 35,000 in 2006. In 2001, CIFF achieved a new level of success with the signing of its first major sponsorship agreement with AGF Group of Funds, $50,000 per year commitment. With film directors such as Atom Egoyan and Deepa Mehta in attendance with their films in 2002, CIFF reached yet another level of success and legitimacy as an international film festival, attracting well known filmmakers and film submissions from all over the world. Since then, CIFF's gala events have become the "scene to be seen" with continual growth in attendance and partnerships. CIFF is also fortunate to attract highly educated and affluent people that represent the greater part of the film-going audience whose demographic is also very attractive to sponsors and supporters alike. Throughout its existence, CIFF has enjoyed success on many levels including community awareness and visibility, leading edge marketing campaigns, increased private & public support, dedicated volunteerism, and significant growth in attendance and box office sales.

Audience History

Attendance — CIFF has enjoyed a minimum of 10% year-over-year attendance growth since its inception. In 2006, it achieved its significant growth at 12% growth resulting in 35,813 attendees, making it the 3rd largest event in Calgary after the Calgary Stampede and Calgary Folk Festival and one of the largest international film festivals in Canada.

About our Audience

Average age of attendees is 36 years
Single or married with no children (72%)
Highly educated — 88% have post-secondary education
Professionals — 73% work full-time
High disposable income — mean income of attendees is $76,675
Mostly Calgarians (92%)
Technically adept (83% visited and purchased tickets on our website)
Event and arts minded (78% of respondents rated the Film Festival as good or excellent)
Loyal — 9 in 10 respondents indicated they would attend next year's Film Festival
Connected to local media — radio listeners (56%), newspaper/publication readers (73%),
Consumers — The Calgary Herald has the highest level of recognition (56%), followed by Starbucks at 37%, CityTV at 33% and AGF at 31%, and Volkwagen at 30%

Market Facts

Leaders in arts & cultural diversity — 95% of our audience agrees that CIFF contributes to cultural diversity
Develops the arts — over 1,000 artists touched (2006)
Promotes a celebratory atmosphere
Drives spending in the downtown core — estimated incremental expenditures on restaurants, bar/pub & shopping, pay parking & accommodation is $527,600 (2003) in a 10—day period
Raises awareness of Calgary around the world — Over 1,000 film submissions received from around the world (2006)
Global reach — 365 Films programmed from around the world (2006)
Increases tourism — taking the Calgary Experience global — (40 plus filmmakers from around the world celebrated and entertained in Calgary

What can CIFF offer you?

Hospitality — Invitations to CIFF Galas, complimentary tickets and VIP passes are great perks and entertainment venues for key clients.

Employee Benefits — Reward you staff with complimentary festival tickets, promotional items, and exciting volunteer opportunities.

Market Reach — Over 1.2 Million people including extensive local, national, & international media will be directly or indirectly informed of your sponsorship.

Public Relations Support — We have a plan for and publicity department to assist you in any public relations activities related to our partnership. Interaction with CIFF Audience — Expand your "festival presence" with a booth, a display, or a kiosk for information, sampling, etc.

Products & Services Demo — If appropriate, demonstration opportunities for your organizations products and services will be included in your sponsorship agreement.

Brand Exposure — Depending on your level of sponsorship, your logo can be included in various aspects of the CIFF Marketing and Communications Campaign including TV ads, print ads, radio ads, outdoor ads, as well as website and internet related marketing.

Internet Reach — CIFF's on-line presence growth is explosive; for 2006 the number of annual visits on www.calgaryfilm.com is 9,599,230

Marketing Value — CIFF is invested in profile building; the value of our marketing plan exceeds 100% of CIFF's annual sponsorship budget.

Media Partnerships — CIFF has excellent media partnerships with several key local and national media including CHUM and CBC.

Brand Association/Interaction — Put your brand front and center with accessible and respected brands like Starbucks,Volkswagen, and VHQ- Movie Gallery.

On-site Visibility — CIFF offers (and encourages) extensive opportunities for on-site sponsor signage.

Exclusivity — Product or category exclusivity can be negotiated. Priority in Community Calendar — CIFF is a pinnacle project in the local community calendar.

Direct Revenues — Activate your sponsorship by working with CIFF to create opportunities for your organization to generate direct revenues.

Product Usage in Event — CIFF believes in creating mutually beneficial relationships with our sponsors and would be happy to use your products or services wherever and whenever appropriate.

Data Collection — CIFF is VERY well researched! We would be happy to make available to you the findings of our annual market survey — in fact, we would welcome any input that helps us measure the effectiveness of our partnership.