Audi extends partnership with the Berlin International Film Festival

News

• Audi to remain the principal partner to the Berlinale through 2017
• Wayne Griffiths, Head of Sales for Germany at AUDI AG: “The Berlinale is a perfect
  fit with Audi and our activities in the capital city”
• Audi at the 2016 Berlinale: Audi Short Film Award and Berlinale Open
  House talk show

Around three months before the start of the 66th Berlin International Film Festival, AUDI AG has extended the contract as principal partner to the festival by another year. Audi and the Berlinale have agreed to continue their successful partnership through 2017. Audi provides a shuttle service with 300 Audi models, including many plug-in hybrid SUVs. In terms of content, the brand with the four rings is actively involved with the Audi Short Film Award as well as the Audi Berlinale Lounge, which includes the Berlinale Open House talk show.

Wayne Griffiths, Head of Sales for Germany at AUDI AG, presented the new Audi Q7 e-tron 3.0 TDI quattro* that festival director Dieter Kosslick will be driving to his many appointments during the Berlinale season today. Griffiths said: “The Berlinale is progressive, open, and close to the public – this is a perfect fit with Audi and our activities in the capital city. This is why we are extending our contract as principal partner to the Berlinale.” Griffiths explained his vision for the continued development of the partnership. “To us, being a partner also means contributing to the success of the Berlin International Film Festival through new ideas. We therefore also want to continue developing formats in the future like the Berlinale Open House and the Audi Short Film Award.”

With the Audi Berlinale Lounge the company has established a new meeting place over the past two years for film fans and film creators directly next to the red carpet. At the Berlinale Open House, actors, directors and experts from all areas of the film industry offer a glimpse behind the scenes. They present projects and discuss current films and issues. Last year more than 6,000 people visited these public events in the Audi Berlinale Lounge.

Audi began presenting the Audi Short Film Award in 2015 – one of the world’s most lucrative prizes for short films. The prize honors the particular artistic signature of a director participating in the competition for the best short film in the Berlinale Shorts section. Short film represents a highly demanding genre and embodies the current zeitgeist.

“I am delighted we have been able to keep Audi on for an additional year. Audi has proven to be a deeply committed and strong partner. We prize this creativity and the desire for continued development on the part of Audi,” Dieter Kosslick said.

The Berlinale is a truly superlative film festival. In 2015 event organizers recorded more than 500,000 cinema admissions to 1,098 showings. There were 443 films to be viewed – most of them world or international premieres. Preparations are already underway at full speed for the 66th Berlin International Film Festival. Audi is making around 300 cars available for the festival, including numerous e-tron models. In addition, Berlinale Director Dieter Kosslick will be driving an Audi Q7 e-tron 3.0 TDI quattro to his appointments during the Berlinale. In all-electric mode, the Audi Q7 e-tron has a range of up to 58 kilometers (36.0 mi) while producing zero local emissions. It is the world’s first plug-in hybrid with a TDI engine and quattro drive.

*Audi Q7 e-tron 3.0 TDI quattro:
Combined fuel consumption in l/100 km: 1.9 – 1.8 (123.8 – 130.7 US mpg)
Combined electrical consumption in kWh/100 km: 19.0 – 18.1
Combined CO2 emissions in g/km: 50 – 48 (80.5 – 77.2 g/mi)