The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) is pleased to be named as a key sponsor of a Rotary Red Carpet Gala Screening taking place on the evening of Monday 23 February. The BBFC will join local business, civic and community leaders from across Wessex and local and national celebrities, at the University of Southampton for the Gala Screening of Fox Searchlight Pictures' forthcoming film The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.

Thanks to sponsorship from the BBFC, and to the generosity of 20th Century Fox and the University of Southampton and the University’s Students’ Union, who are freely providing the screening, all of the money raised from tickets and corporate sponsorship will be granted through Age UK Southampton and Rotary Wessex to take isolated older people to see the film when it opens later that week.

The Rotary Red Carpet Gala Screening is organised by The Damaris Trust, an educational charity, working in partnership with local communities and the film industry, and also marks the 110th birthday of Rotary International.

David Cooke, Director, BBFC says: “We’re very pleased to be able to support Age UK Southampton and Rotary Wessex by sponsoring their Red Carpet Gala Screening fundraiser, and look forward to seeing the money raised benefit isolated individuals in Hampshire and Dorset. As a not-for-profit regulator, the BBFC makes donations to film based charities and initiatives, when our finances permit, in order to re-invest any surplus funds in projects that make an impact on the lives of film-lovers of all ages and backgrounds. Our donations activity this year includes funding for new hospital cinema facilities, regional youth film programmes and initiatives using film as a therapy for individuals with disabilities.”

Nick Pollard, co-founder of the Damaris Trust says “It is very exciting to bring different people and organisations together through an event like this, and to make a difference in many people’s lives. Sponsorship from the BBFC has given us the support we need to ensure that the event gives people in Wessex a true red carpet screening experience for this delightful and inspirational film - The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.”

Eve Conway, President Elect of Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland says: “This is a great way to celebrate Rotary’s 110th Birthday, with the first Rotary Red Carpet Gala Screening in Britain and Ireland and to be making a difference to the lives of isolated elderly people. Rotarians have been actively involved in helping our local community and supporting those in need, both at home and overseas, since 1905. Rotary is a global network of community volunteers.”

Notes for Editors:

About the film

THE SECOND BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL is the expansionist dream of Sonny (Dev Patel), and it’s making more claims on his time than he has available, considering his imminent marriage to the love of his life, Sunaina (Tina Desai). Sonny has his eye on a promising property now that his first venture, ‘The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel for the Elderly and Beautiful’, has only a single remaining vacancy posing a rooming predicament for fresh arrivals Guy (Richard Gere) and Lavinia (Tamsin Greig). Evelyn and Douglas (Judi Dench and Bill Nighy) have now joined the Jaipur workforce, and are wondering where their regular dates for Chilla pancakes will lead, while Norman and Carol (Ronald Pickup and Diana Hardcastle) are negotiating the tricky waters of an exclusive relationship, as Madge (Celia Imrie) juggles two eligible and very wealthy suitors. Perhaps the only one who may know the answers is newly installed co-manager of the hotel, Muriel (Maggie Smith), the keeper of everyone's secrets. As the demands of a traditional Indian wedding threaten to engulf them all, an unexpected way forward presents itself.

About Damaris Trust
The Damaris Trust  is an educational charity, working in partnership with the film industry, to provide free official community resources accompanying the latest film releases. Damaris enables community groups to organise trips to the cinema followed by themed food, quizzes and discussion - thus enriching the lives of their members and those they serve in the wider community.

About BBFC
The BBFC is an independent, private, not-for-profit company which classifies films, video on all physical formats (DVD and Blu-ray Disc for example) and certain video games, advertisements and trailers. It also classifies, on a best practice voluntary basis, video content for distribution online. The BBFC operates transparent, well-understood and trusted co-regulatory and self-regulatory classification regimes, such as its digital video service, based on years of expertise and published Guidelines which reflect public opinion and the risk of harm; and is accountable to Parliament.

About Rotary International in great Britain and Ireland 
Rotary International in Great Britain & Ireland is a volunteer organisation where members use their skills and their time to improve the lives of others while having great fun in the process. There are nearly 1,800 Rotary clubs across Great Britain and Ireland and 51,000 members. Rotary is open to anyone aged 18 and upwards. All that is required is a positive attitude and a sense of adventure. Rotary International was founded in 1905 in Chicago and is now the world’s largest international service organisation with 1.2 million professional men and women as members. There are 33,000 clubs in 200 countries and geographical areas.
www.ribi.org