Los Angeles, CA., June 15, 2015 – For the second consecutive year, AKA, the innovative brand of luxury serviced residences catering to entertainment industry insiders, executive business travelers, international travelers and locals, is partnering with the British Academy of Film and Television Arts Los Angeles (BAFTA LA). This year, AKA will support the BAFTA US Student Film Awards event, on June 25, 2015 at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills. AKA will present the prestigious Special Jury Prize. The recipient of the Special Jury Prize is chosen by a curated panel of industry colleagues, who select the deserving recipient after viewing each filmmaker’s work at the event.
“BAFTA’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of our industry has never been stronger,” says BAFTA Los Angeles Chairman, Kieran Breen. “US Film Schools attract the very best of filmmaking students from around the globe, so with BAFTA’s expansion of the Student Film Awards into a national event we are connecting BAFTA and the British industry with an immense talent pool that’s arguably unmatched in the world.”
The BAFTA US Student Film Awards identifies and celebrates the best creative works produced by international students studying in the US. The event is presented as part of BAFTA’s ongoing commitment to supporting and developing emerging talents, with the finalists also invited to attend BAFTA’s year-round educational events in the US. The BAFTA US Student Film Awards also serves to connect rising US and international student filmmakers with experts from the UK entertainment industry, with the aim of continuing the strong legacy of successful collaboration between the US and UK filmmaking communities.
“We are excited to partner with BAFTA Los Angeles and help celebrate up-and-coming filmmakers,” said Larry Korman, President of AKA. “As the leading provider of luxury long stay accommodations for entertainment industry executives looking for a home away from home, we are thrilled to be able to present the 2015 Special Jury Prize to a talented individual excelling in film.”
The Korman family has a deep-rooted passion for film and, over the years, has developed strong relationships with entertainment industry insiders, including BAFTA members, who have come to depend on the brand when traveling for an extended period of time. AKA’s commitment to supporting inspiring filmmakers extends to the brand’s newest division – a.films, which was developed with the goal of funding and producing an array of carefully selected films that highlight inspiring stories of everyday citizens going against the grain to help mankind. The first project by a.film and Executive Produced by AKA is the documentary The Barefoot Artist, Directed by Glenn Holsten and award-winning documentary cinematographer, Daniel Traub.
About AKA:
AKA, a division of Korman Communities, is an innovative and growing portfolio of luxury serviced residences in prime urban locations including New York City (5); Philadelphia, Beverly Hills, Washington, D.C., and London. Across the brand, architecturally inspired, spacious accommodations offer the privacy of a luxury residence integrated with hotel-like services and amenities. While each property is unique and has distinct resident offerings, all feature AKA brand standards and amenities such as exclusive evening lounges, cafes, fitness centers; full-service business centers with meetings space and complimentary high-speed Internet access; en-suite dining; 24-hour front desk assistance and dedicated doormen. All suites include top-of the-line, fully accessorized kitchens, contemporary furnishings, luxurious bathrooms, meticulous housekeeping and premium cable. www.stayaka.com
About BAFTA Los Angeles:
Founded in 1987, BAFTA Los Angeles serves as a bridge between the Hollywood and British production and entertainment business communities. Its commitment to professional and community education is at the heart of all activity, including an award-winning community outreach programme, screenings, seminars, Behind Closed Doors series, Q&As, scholarships for British students studying in the US, a Newcomers Program for emerging British talents working in the US, and a Heritage Archive project that preserves in-depth interviews with the industry’s leading talents for future generations. BAFTA Los Angeles celebrates and promotes excellence through its annual Britannia Awards, Awards Season Film and Television Tea Parties and the Student Film Awards. www.bafta.org/losangeles.