BAFTA Names Wayne Watkins Director of Sponsorship Development

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts Los Angeles® (BAFTA Los Angeles), announced today that it has selected Wayne Watkins as the organization's first Director of Sponsorship Development. Watkins' appointment is part of BAFTA Los Angeles' expansion of operations in its 25th anniversary year.

"Wayne brings an impressive professional background to the organization with over two decades of successful leadership in marketing and sponsorship," says Donald Haber, Executive Director of BAFTA Los Angeles. "We are excited that his vast experience will support our wide-ranging events and projects, and help guide BAFTA LA beyond its current 25th anniversary year, into the future."

Watkins' responsibilities will include identifying and securing additional corporate and event sponsors, expanding partner activation plans, and fully leveraging the opportunities created by the LA-based non-profit. Each year, BAFTA Los Angeles produces the star-studded TV Tea and Awards Season Tea Parties (held the Saturday prior to the Primetime Emmys and the Golden Globes, respectively), as well as their premiere event, The Britannia Awards. Reporting to Executive Director and COO, Donald Haber, Watkins will also work closely with the BAFTA Los Angeles Board of Directors to ensure the organization has financial support to enhance the many community and educational outreach programs they have created over the years, including the Heritage Archives, the Inner City Shakespeare Project, BAFTA LA Student Short Film Awards, and the Inner City Screening Program that brings free weekly family films to more than 35 parks in Los Angeles during the summer months.

For the last five years Watkins' boutique marketing firm, Dirigible, specialized in working with small to mid-size non-profits in their development of marketing and sponsorship strategies, working specifically in entertainment and performing arts.

Watkins had previously served as National Director of Catalog and Strategic Marketing for Capitol Records. By creating product, exploring innovative marketing techniques and serving as Executive Producer on over 200 music releases he helped lead the label and the industry in high artistic quality and financially successful releases by Les Paul, The Band, The Beach Boys, Steve Miller, Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole and the critically acclaimed Ultra Lounge series to name only a few. In 2004, Watkins was approached by the American Youth Soccer Organization to serve as their National Director of Marketing and Communications. AYSO is a national, not-for-profit, youth sports organization. Watkins was charged with marketing, communications and over-seeing the organization's multi-million dollar sponsorship effort.

BAFTA Los Angeles
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts Los Angeles is the only Anglo-American professional organization founded to promote and advance original work in film, television and interactive media. BAFTA Los Angeles serves as the bridge between the Hollywood and British production and entertainment business communities, and provides exclusive access to screenings, Q&As with creative talent, produces seminars with leading UK film and television executives and the Heritage Archive, featuring broadcast-quality interviews with distinguished British members of the film and television industries, giving life to the preservation of the UK film industry for future generations.

Maintaining a long tradition of recognizing the finest filmmaking and television talent, BAFTA Los Angeles hosts a series of events, including the prestigious Britannia Awards, the Awards Season Film and Television Tea Parties in January and September and the annual GArden Party.

A commitment to professional and community education is at the heart of the Academy's charitable remit. BAFTA Los Angeles hosts the Student Film Awards and has an active Scholarship Program offering financial support and mentorship to UK students studying in the U.S. The Academy created The Inner City Cinema, a screening program providing free screenings of theatrical films to inner city areas not served by theatres. The success of Inner City Cinema has led to further free screening programs extended to multiple inner city parks through the Academy's work with both the County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation (Parks After Dark) and The City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks (Teen Summer Camps).

For more information on the British Academy of Film and Television Arts Los Angeles, visit www.baftala.org

 

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