Government refuses to sponsor film awards.
The Scottish Government has been accused of snubbing a chance to promote the country at one of the world’s most prestigious film awards.
A-list celebrities including Robert De Niro, Scarlett Johansson and Meryl Streep will take to the red carpet in Santa Monica, California, next week for the Critics’ Choice Movie Awards.
The glittering event is widely acknowledged as an important precursor to the Oscars.
But Scots promoter Tony Cochrane revealed last night that the Scottish Government turned down a sponsorship deal to champion the country to millions of US viewers watching live. Instead, a far eastern country has signed a five-year sponsorship deal to be announced next week.
Tony, who is organising the red carpet and VIP room for this year’s awards bash, slammed the government as “small minded.”
He said: “It is a big missed opportunity to put Scottish logos all over an international event which attracts the big stars.”
Tony, a club boss and showbiz entrepreneur from Broughty Ferry, Dundee, approached the Scottish Government offering the five-figure sponsorship deal last year. It would have included the promotion of organisations such as EventScotland and VisitScotland at the awards and Scottish Government logos along the red carpet.
In previous years Hawaii sponsored the red carpet and VIP room at the awards.
Tony said the massive publicity, including top stars being interviewed about the island, led to movie directors choosing filming locations in Hawaii.
Tony, who owns nine nightclubs in Scotland, said: “Hawaii got the kind of publicity which would have cost you a fortune. They had Brad Pitt standing with Hawaiian products and at least two movies were filmed there because of it.”
He approached Joey Berlin, president of the Broadcast Film Critics Association, which organises the awards, who agreed to fly to Edinburgh during a visit to Wimbledon this summer, with a view to striking a deal.
Tony also contacted Liberal Democrat MSP Willie Rennie, who set up meetings between the promoter and Visit Scotland.
“We had some big names over from LA and I was trying to link them and the Scottish Government together,” he said. “I contacted the Government and offered to arrange a meeting. To this day, I have never had a response. I have no idea why they have never taken it up.”
Last night Mr Rennie called on the Government to explain the snub.
“It is important that the Scottish Government should take advantage of these kind of things,” he said. “I want some answers as to why they didn’t proceed with what seems like a good opportunity.”
A spokesman for the Scottish Government did not reveal the reasons behind the snub.
She said: “2014 will see Scotland take the world stage with a number of key events including the Commonwealth Games, the Ryder Cup, Homecoming and the referendum. Scotland is already receiving world-wide recognition as a top place to visit. With partners including Event Scotland and VisitScotland we undertake a wide variety of promotional work to further enhance Scotland’s reputation.”
The 19th annual Critics’ Choice Movie Awards will take place on Thursday.
Steve McQueen’s film 12 Years A Slave and David O. Russell’s American Hustle lead the nominees with 13 bids each. Both films are nominated for best picture, actor, supporting actor and actress, acting ensemble, director, editing, costume design and make-up. Alfonso Cuaron’s space odyssey, Gravity, starring Sandra Bullock, is next with 10 nominations.
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