AMERICAN EXPRESS SHOWCASES DOWNTOWN NYC FOR 2004 TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL
Founding Sponsor Returns with Full Menu of Benefits and Attractions for All Festivalgoers; Advance Ticket Sales and Exclusive American Express® Cardmember Benefits Also Announced
NEW YORK, April 14, 2004 -- American Express will celebrate New York City's Tribeca Film Festival with a host of entertainment experiences, dining promotions and event services designed to delight film buffs, Cardmembers and the merely curious who attend the lower Manhattan event, May 1 – 9, 2004. In its third year as Founding Sponsor of the Festival, American Express once again welcomes fans back to downtown New York City to enjoy the international film and cultural festival that has helped revitalize the spirit of the historic neighborhood.
“American Express is a proud sponsor of the Tribeca Film Festival, and we're committed to helping generate the energy and commerce that has helped revitalize lower Manhattan – our home since 1850,” said John Hayes, chief marketing officer of American Express. “Last year's Festival drew more than 325,000 visitors, many of whom attended the events, shopped in downtown stores and dined with neighborhood merchants, making Tribeca a tremendous success.”
"We are delighted that American Express is returning for its third year as Founding Sponsor of the Tribeca Film Festival," said Festival co-founder Jane Rosenthal. "With its commitment to lower Manhattan as strong as ever, American Express truly exemplifies the power of corporate citizenship. The Festival could not happen without their support, and we are deeply grateful for this wonderful collaborative partnership."
Special Ticket Offers for American Express Cardmembers
Beginning April 18, American Express Cardmembers can purchase advance tickets to individual film screenings and panel discussions. Individual screening and panel discussion tickets will be available to the general public on April 24. American Express Cardmembers can also redeem Membership Rewards® points for tickets. On May 3, the American Express Gold Card Events program will take over the Tribeca Cinemas theater, giving American Express Gold Card, Platinum Card® and Centurion® Card members exclusive access to some of the Festival's most anticipated films. Tickets for the all-day screenings go on sale April 18. Visit www.americanexpress.com/gce, or call 1-800-448-TIKS for more information.
Information Resources Around Town
American Express will dot lower Manhattan and high-traffic locations around Manhattan with kiosks that provide comprehensive Festival information. Along with complimentary, freshly popped popcorn, staff at the kiosks will distribute Festival schedules, copies of the “American Express Guide to New York's Big Scenes” movie map, souvenir lanyards and postcards, and a listing of exclusive American Express Cardmember benefits to be enjoyed in and around the Festival.1
Festival Travel Made Easier
Festival venues, activities and participating restaurants are situated throughout lower Manhattan, and, beginning May 1, American Express will provide complimentary double-decker bus service to downtown screening houses and special event locations. In addition, a fleet of three-wheeled, chauffeur-driven bicycles known as “pedicabs” will circulate throughout the neighborhood and pedal attendees to downtown stops, free of charge.2 The double-deckers and pedicabs will be fully wrapped in familiar American Express green tones.
Entertainment for the Entire Family
On Saturday, May 8, the popular Tribeca Family Festival returns to Greenwich Street, and American Express will roll out the welcome mat for kids at the American Express “House of Stars”. There, children of all ages can unleash their creative genius through free art projects such as customized t-shirts, photo stickers and souvenir “credential” stations while enjoying a carnival-like atmosphere filled with food and live entertainment for everyone.
Martin Scorsese's documentary film “Lady by the Sea,” a moving tribute to the Statue of Liberty produced with American Express, will run in the Winter Garden of the World Financial Center on Friday, May 7, and Saturday, May 8. Admission is free to the general public. American Express will also host a major concert in Battery Park on Saturday, May 8, with participating entertainers to be announced soon.
Dinner and a Movie for Less
American Express Cardmembers can indulge themselves for a special price at some of their favorite downtown eateries during the Festival. In conjunction with NYC & Co., the popular Tribeca Film Feast returns May 3 – 8, during which Cardmembers can wine and dine on exclusive $20 prix-fixe lunches and $30 prix-fixe dinners at more than 30 top restaurants in lower Manhattan. Visit www.americanexpress.com/tff for a full list of participating eateries.
Tribeca Film Festival on the Web
Visitors to the official American Express Tribeca Film Festival website at www.americanexpress.com/tff can preview dozens of Festival film trailers, and American Express Cardmembers will have exclusive access to advanced ticket sales. Acclaimed director Ed Burns will star in “New York Scenes,” an original web documentary in which he and up-and-coming directors discuss the powerful and ongoing influence of New York City on film.
Also at www.americanexpress.com/tff, the general public can purchase film and panel discussion tickets, navigate famous New York City film scenes, locate Festival venues and pinpoint Tribeca Film Feast restaurants. For the first time, visitors can also download well-known movie “ringtones” to their mobile phones, and sign up to receive text messages alerting them with movie times and special Festival promotion alerts.
American Express Advertising Campaign
Beginning this week, American Express will launch an aggressive advertising effort that includes national and local television, print and radio media buys. An eye-catching, movie poster-themed ad campaign will surround Tribeca and the rest of Manhattan with echoes of such famous films titles as “Invasion of the Ticket Snatchers” and “The Man with the Golden Card”. At local commuter hubs, American Express will also distribute thousands of interactive CD-ROMs that include selected Festival movie trailers, a calendar of events and downloadable images of the advertising creative.
The Tribeca Film Festival was founded by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff to celebrate New York City as a major filmmaking capital, and to contribute to the long-term recovery of lower Manhattan after the attacks of September 11, 2001.
American Express is the Founding Sponsor of the Tribeca Film Festival. Part of a multi-year relationship, the Festival is one of a series of events – large and small – that American Express is sponsoring to draw people to lower Manhattan and help restore a sense of excitement in the neighborhood. American Express is a diversified worldwide travel, network, and financial services provider founded in 1850. It is a leader in charge and credit cards, Travelers Cheques, travel, financial planning, investment products, insurance and international banking.
For more information on the Tribeca Film Festival, call the Festival box office at 1-866-941-FEST (3378), or visit the Tribeca Film Festival website at www.tribecafilmfestival.org.
1 Valid while supplies last.
2 Subject to availability.
