Toronto, Canada – Bell Canada and the Toronto International Film Festival
(TIFF) strengthened their partnership today through total web enablement of
this year’s Festival at the official TIFF web site at
www.bell.ca/filmfest.
With 17 per cent of last year’s Festival sales occurring online, fans this year
are expected to take further advantage of the ability to purchase coupon books,
gala passes and program books and register for late breaking Festival updates
via e-mail.
Over the years Bell has been involved with the Festival, online traffic has
increased steadily from 600,000 hits to the site in 1995, to 5.4 million hits
in 1998 to 11 million in 1999.
Bell is excited to announce that a new element will be added to the Festival
website this year. Through Bell Sympatico High Speed Edition Internet Service,
the website will feature webcasting of Film Festival activities. In keeping
with the spirit of the Film Festival, details will be announced throughout the
summer.
Film lovers will also be able to use ‘.com-ready’ Bell Mobility phones to
wirelessly access Festival information through Mobile Browser. By pressing #
FILM on their wireless phone, customers can also receive valuable information
such as ‘best bets’ for same day tickets and box office information through the
Bell Infoline.
“The Toronto International Film Festival is an exciting event for Bell because
we get to show our customers how technology can truly enhance their
experiences” says Rudi Engel, senior vice president of consumer markets, Bell
Ontario. “Through e-commerce capabilities and the interactive nature of the
site, people are taking advantage of the Internet in record numbers”.
“We’re thrilled that so many Festival goers and film lovers around the world
are using the official website,” added Engel. “I think the dramatic increase in
numbers is indicative of the value we are providing online and the growing
demand for up to the minute information at your fingertips.”
The website provides complete Film Festival information including:
2000 Festival Information – Box office information, key dates, film and theatre
locations
Toronto International Film Festival 25th Anniversary -celebration and event
information
Live Coverage – during the Festival up to minute information including Daily
recaps, celebrity photos, film previews and video clips from films screened at
the Festival, and daily ‘best bets’ for tickets Personal Festival Planner –
fans can search for their favourite directors, actors, suitable dates and
theatre locations to set up their own personal preference film list
Benson & Hedges Official Film Schedule – the entire version of the film
schedule will be available online including a sophisticated search engine for
over 300 films
Bell Canada provides a full range of communications services to customers,
including wired and wireless local and long distance telephone services,
Internet access, high-speed data services and directories. Bell Canada, its
telecom partners and subsidiaries provide services through 13.6 million access
lines, including 11 million in Ontario and Québec. Bell Canada also serves more
than 2.3 million wireless customers through Bell Mobility. Bell Canada is 80
per cent owned by BCE Inc. of Montréal and 20 per cent owned by SBC
Communications Inc. of San Antonio, Texas.
