Tag Archive for: PARTNERSHIP

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E1 Series and PIF announce partnership to create world’s first electric powerboat championship

E1 Series and PIF announce partnership to create world’s first electric powerboat championship

Electric Sea Racing Limited (‘E1 Series’) and Public Investment Fund (PIF) have entered into a partnership that will see PIF support in creating the world’s first electric powerboat racing championship.

The news was revealed today during a virtual launch event, where E1 Series organisers also unveiled the new design of the electric RaceBird powerboat ahead of World Oceans Day on June 8.

The partnership represents a significant step forward in the long-term development of the championship, providing a strong foundation on which to build from and enabling the series to further accelerate preparations for the inaugural season, scheduled to take place in early 2023 – with Saudi Arabia to be one of the considered race locations.

As a major contributor to the global economy and partner of choice for innovative companies and investors, PIF’s investment in E1 is in line with its 2021-2025 strategy announced earlier this year, which focuses on 13 key strategic sectors, including sports and entertainment, and renewable energy. This includes major investments in renewable energy companies, such as ACWA Power and the Sudair Solar Energy project, as well as in the development of electric vehicles through its investment in Lucid Motors.

Series creators Alejandro Agag, Chairman of E1, and Rodi Basso, CEO of E1, were both joined live in the studio by the President of the Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM) Raffaele Chiulli, as well as SeaBird Technologies Founder Sophi Horne, and Founder & CEO of Victory Marine Brunello Acampora to present the RaceBird powerboat.

The vessel is a completely new design and was co-created by Horne and Acampora following an extensive validation process. The RaceBird is inspired by nature and birds flying low over the water and features an outboard motor, enclosed safety canopy and hydrofoil technology.

Using innovative hydrofoil technology, the electric RaceBird powerboats will rise high above the water’s surface, allowing for minimum drag and maximum energy efficiency. Being lifted above the waves will not only improve performance, but it will also promote close and competitive racing with a reduced wake when following an opponent.

The RaceBird is specially designed for foil-to-foil racing and is capable of reaching speeds up to 50 knots (93 km/h or 58 mph), with pilots showcasing their skills using tight and technical circuits located close to shore in the heart of urban areas.

With the design now validated, the RaceBird has entered into the production phase with the expert engineers at Victory Marine concentrating their efforts and resource over the coming months on manufacturing a full fleet of race-ready electric powerboats.

Alejandro Agag, Co-Founder & Chairman of E1, said: “It gives me great pleasure to welcome on board PIF as a new partner in this exciting venture. To get the backing of PIF at this early stage of development emphasises the importance of our mission to electrify marine mobility. With the new design of the RaceBird boat you see today, we hope to accelerate change in the marine industry and provide sustainable solutions for future leisure craft. The new powerboat that Sophi and Brunello designed looks like a spaceship. I’ve compared electric racing cars to podracers from Star Wars in the past, but the RaceBird looks even more futuristic. Working together with PIF, I look forward to ushering in a new era of electric powerboat racing.”

Rodi Basso, Co-Founder & CEO of E1, said: “We’re thrilled to be working together with PIF to jointly shape the future direction of powerboating. Forming a strong partnership with a global investment powerhouse such as PIF provides a solid foundation on which to build a new sport. The RaceBird presents a unique challenge and one that the teams at SeaBird Technologies and Victory Marine have delivered on. They’ve managed to develop an innovative powerboat with an eye-catching design and factored in practical solutions ready to go racing. Shortly we’ll also be announcing our powertrain and electronics partners; we’re on schedule to hit the water soon.”

Commenting on the announcement, HE Yasir Al-Rumayyan, Governor of the Public Investment Fund, said: “This exciting investment in a new premier sport format aligns with our strategy to enable innovation globally and unlock new industries, as well as build strategic partnerships with real value add to Saudi Arabia. We believe our support for future sports will also contribute to the growth of various sectors globally.

“Our partnership with E1 will help drive the development of innovative sustainable technology, which in turn positions Saudi as an enabler in the industries of the future and the creation of new opportunities.”

Sophi Horne, Founder of SeaBird Technologies, said: “It’s amazing to finally be able to share the new RaceBird design with the world. Obviously, I’ve seen it on a screen quite a lot in the past few months! But it’s great to show the new look of the boat that the pilots will race with. The bodywork and shape of the vessel is inspired by nature and birds flying above the water’s surface. What has been interesting is trying to find a balance between how you envisage the design and combining that with optimising both performance and efficiency. The solution we settled on fortunately doesn’t compromise on either the looks or performance capabilities.”

Brunello Acampora, Founder & CEO of Victory Marine, said: “Today’s announcement is the result of many months of hard work, creating a completely new design and simulating it in a competitive racing environment. I’ve really enjoyed working together with Sophi to produce the vessel that will compete in the world’s first electric powerboat championship. Now that the design has been fully validated, we’ll begin engineering and manufacturing the boats in preparation for prototype testing and ready for the teams to receive their first delivery. For us at Victory Marine, the E1 Series is the greatest test bench for cutting-edge solutions that will change the future of navigation forever.”

Dr. Raffaele Chiulli, President of the UIM, said: “At the International Powerboat Federation, we’re delighted to be part of this groundbreaking development in the powerboating sport. The futuristic RaceBird design combined with the use of hydrofoil technology in the E1 Series reflects the pioneering spirit of this initiative and are an inspiring answer to today’s challenges facing marine mobility. It’s an exciting moment for our sport and I cannot wait to see the RaceBird on the water.”

Released ahead of World Oceans Day, the RaceBird acts as a symbol of the future ambitions of the E1 Series, to revolutionise marine mobility and reduce the pressures being placed on fragile underwater ecosystems across the world.

The next major milestone in the RaceBird development is in September when the covers come off the first full-scale model at the Monaco Yacht Show, before the start of prototype testing which is set to get underway later this year.

E1 were advised by Shoosmiths law firm and financial advisers PJT Partners.

www.e1series.com
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The Craft Irish Whiskey Co. x Fabergé | A Partnership of a Lifetime

The Craft Irish Whiskey Co. x Fabergé | A Partnership of a Lifetime.

Fabergé | A Partnership of a Lifetime

A partnership with iconic artist-jeweller seven-piece custom-made whiskey set which celebrates the ‘Seven Wonders of Ireland’. 

We are so excited to announce that we have partnered with Fabergé to release ‘The Emerald Isle Collection’: a seven-piece, custom-made whiskey collection which celebrates the seven wonders of Ireland. With each of the seven bottles of ultra-rare, 30-year-old, triple distilled Irish whiskey, comes a bespoke Fabergé Celtic Egg with a unique surprise hidden within, and an elegant 18k rose gold bespoke Altruist watch.   

This partnership sees the release of an extraordinarily rare whiskey collectible worthy of being the most valuable whiskey of all time. Years in the making, we’re so proud to partner with Fabergé and to materialise our love of extraordinarily rare whiskey in these seven legacy bottles. 

The innovative collaboration forged between The Craft Irish Whiskey Co. and Fabergé fuses together an exceptional and distinctive ultra-rare, single malt with the heritage and mythology from the legendary artist-jewellery.  These two brands share the same vision of creating timeless beauty and a lasting legacy, loyal to heritage while also embracing new methods. 

The Emerald Isle Collection, is a uniquely time-defying celebration of the luxury, colour and boldness of an ultra-rare whiskey. 

Presented in a dark walnut experience box, each set features two bottles of ultra-rare, 30-year-old, triple distilled Irish whiskey, accompanied by two unique and exclusive creations from Fabergé – the first-of-its-kind Celtic Egg objet and a bespoke Altruist timepiece. Each collection also includes a humidor with two ultra-rare Cohiba Siglo VI Grand Reserva cigars, a gold-plated cigar cutter, gold-plated water pipette, pure obsidian whiskey stones, a hip flask with a sample of the Emerald Isle whiskey – which is the rarest Irish whiskey in existence – and a carafe filled with Irish spring water from the same region as where the whiskey was made. 

THE EMERALD ISLE COLLECTION

We are thrilled to announce our partnership with The Craft Irish Whiskey Co., purveyors of the finest Irish whiskey, to release ‘The Emerald Isle Collection’, a seven-piece custom-made whiskey set which celebrates the ‘Seven Wonders of Ireland’. Beautifully presented in a dark walnut experience box, each set features a unique Fabergé Celtic Egg objet and bespoke Altruist watch, along with two bottles of extremely rare, 30-year-old, triple distilled Irish whiskey.

‘The Emerald Isle Collection’ is the oldest triple distilled Irish whiskey in the world and fuses Faberge’s unique heritage with rich Irish tradition and mythology.

Each experience box has been inspired by the shape of an emerald and features an illustration of one of the ‘wonders’ of Ireland and its coordinates, with a frontal egg-shaped aperture and a frame of coloured gemstones. Inside each box is a hand-crafted whiskey bottle which holds the ‘liquid gold’. Each of the bottles has been inspired by key Fabergé design elements, set with responsibly sourced emeralds from Gemfields’ Kagem mine in Zambia on the neck and lowermost part of the bottle.

Accompanying each bottle of whiskey is a bespoke Fabergé Celtic Egg objet, handcrafted by fourth-generation Fabergé enamel workmaster, Dr. Marcus Mohr. Each egg is crafted from 18k yellow gold and features Fabergé’s legendary guilloché enamel in a pastel green; the green, white and gold colours of the egg symbolise the Irish flag.

Each of the seven unique Fabergé eggs is set with a pavé diamond Celtic knot, framing a coloured gemstone at its centre. Each one also features a different gemstone on its exterior: Gemfields Zambian emerald, blue sapphire, Gemfields Mozambican ruby, amethyst, rhodolite, spessartite or tourmaline, representing each of the seven Irish locations. A matching cabochon coloured gemstone is also set on top of the egg, which itself is mounted on a beautiful hand-carved and polished rock crystal plinth with gold base.

In true Fabergé spirit, a surprise awaits inside in the form of a rough, uncut Zambian emerald responsibly sourced from Gemfields and presented on a gold guilloché base with an intricate claw setting. This is the first time in Fabergé’s history that we have featured a surprise of this kind. The enduring legacy of this piece continues, as the owner can later commission Fabergé to convert the rough emerald as part of a bespoke set, or piece of jewellery.

Emeralds are believed to symbolise hope, growth and fresh starts – which befits the current challenging times.

In addition, each edition of ‘The Emerald Isle’ features a bespoke one-of-a-kind Fabergé Altruist 18k rose gold watch with a self-winding movement from Vaucher Manufacture. Each piece has a unique dial, inspired by the landscape of one of the ‘Seven Wonders of Ireland’. Handcrafted by Fabergé’s workmaster André Martinez, a specialist in decorating watch dials, the white mother of pearl face has been skilfully etched and hand-painted with 24k rose gold. The crystal case backs on each piece are dedicated to The Craft Irish Whiskey Co. and feature their logo. The watch is finished with a brown alligator strap, which complements the design perfectly.

Josina von dem Bussche-Kessell, Global Sales and Business Development Director at Fabergé, said: “This is a thrilling partnership for Fabergé, as it sees us continuing our legacy of creating unique and collectable objects, bridging the gap between historic legacy and modern-day heirlooms. Rare whiskey has seen tremendous investor attention, and the whiskey market is undergoing a dynamic evolution. It is very exciting for Fabergé to participate in such a cross-pollination of luxury sectors, thereby adding a dynamic twist on age-old traditions.”

The inaugural launch of these highly limited boxes will take place via a private auction on 2nd February 2021 with 100% of the proceeds going to charity – 50% to the Correa Family Foundation supporting children affected by serious illness, and the remaining 50% to the buyer’s charity of choice.

Please contact our client services team for more information 

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Porsche and TAG Heuer enter into strategic partnership

Porsche and TAG Heuer enter into strategic partnership

Stuttgart/La Chaux-de-Fonds. Porsche and the Swiss luxury watch manufacturer TAG Heuer have joined forces in a strategic brand partnership. Within the framework of the holistic and long-term alliance, the premium manufacturers intend to jointly approach both sports competitions and the development of products. As a first step, the partners unveiled a new watch, the TAG Heuer Carrera Porsche Chronograph.

Porsche and TAG Heuer enter into strategic partnership

Porsche and TAG Heuer enter into strategic partnership

“The strong friendship of our brand with TAG Heuer exists since decades and I am more than happy that we are now taking the next steps in the frame of a strategic partnership,” says Detlev von Platen, Member of the Executive Board for Sales and Marketing at Porsche AG. “We bring together what our customers love the most about both of us: authentic heritage, thrilling sports events, unique life experiences and the fulfilment of dreams. We both strive to create some unique, magic moments for our communities. We now look forward to doing it together.”

Porsche and TAG Heuer enter into strategic partnership

Porsche and TAG Heuer enter into strategic partnership

“TAG Heuer and Porsche have common history and values, of course, but more importantly, we share an attitude,” says . “Like Porsche, we are disruptors at heart, always in pursuit of high performance. With this alliance, TAG Heuer and Porsche finally come together officially after decades of close encounters and will create unmatched experiences and products for customers and fans that are passionate about both our brands and what we stand for.”

Two histories – one passion
For over half a century, the stories of the two companies have intersected. Similarities of heritage can be traced all the way back to the entrepreneurs of Porsche and TAG Heuer. Edouard Heuer and Ferdinand Porsche were pioneers whose visions changed their chosen fields forever. Heuer was responsible for the first manufactured chronograph and Porsche constructed a new electric wheel hub motor. Both these accomplishments earned medals at World Fairs held in Paris 11 years apart. Heuer was honoured in 1889, the first Lohner-Porsche Electromobile with this innovation was presented at the Expo in Paris in 1900.

Porsche and TAG Heuer enter into strategic partnership

Porsche and TAG Heuer enter into strategic partnership

The true cornerstones of today’s partnership, however, are descendants of the brands’ founders. Ferdinand Porsche’s son, Ferdinand Anton Ernst or “Ferry”, joined his father’s engineering office in 1931 at the age of 22 and founded the car brand that bears the family name in 1948. Within a few years, the name of Porsche would be inextricably linked with race track success all around the world – including a class win in the Carrera Panamericana race of 1954. In honour of its successful participation, Porsche calls its most powerful sportscar engine at this time ‘Carrera’.
Edouard Heuer’s great-grandson Jack led his family’s company for decades. In 1963, he created the first Heuer Carrera chronograph, designed to let drivers tell the time at a glance in the heat of action. Jack Heuer was also responsible for the Heuer Monaco, the first square-faced, water-resistant automatic chronograph watch. Its name evoked the Monaco Grand Prix as well as the Principality’s renowned Monte Carlo Rally, which Porsche won in three consecutive years, from 1968 to 1970, with its 911 model.

Steve McQueen and the Heuer logo
Just as the Porsche 911 had done for automobiles, the Heuer Monaco broke with the familiar design codes of traditional watchmaking. Its innovations had come at a significant financial cost and as an alternative to an expensive advertising campaign, Jack Heuer further cemented his brand’s link to the renowned sportscar manufacturer with a creative sponsorship arrangement with Fribourg, Switzerland-based racing driver and Porsche dealer Jo Siffert. In 2005, at the premiere of the film Jo Siffert: “Live Fast, Die Young”, Jack Heuer remembered the terms of their contract: “In exchange for CHF 25,000, he would put our logo on his car and suit. In addition, he could buy our watches at wholesale prices and resell them to his racing friends at a substantial profit. Which he did with great success because half of the paddock was wearing Heuer watches by the end of the 1969 season!” It was this connection that led Steve McQueen to wear the Heuer logo on his racing suit during the filming of Le Mans in 1970, in which he drove a Porsche 917. The American actor said at the time, “I drive the same car as Jo Siffert, and I want to wear the same suit as him.”

TAG-Turbo Engine – made by Porsche for the McLaren team
With its sale to the TAG Group, Heuer became TAG Heuer in the mid-1980s. At this time, the Porsche and TAG Heuer jointly developed and produced the TAG Turbo Engine that enabled the McLaren team to win three consecutive F1 world titles: with Niki Lauda in 1984, followed by Alain Prost in 1985 and 1986. In 1999, the relationship between Porsche and TAG Heuer grew even stronger – from the Porsche Carrera Cup and Supercup competitions, followed by the Endurance World Championship and more was yet to come. Porsche created its own Formula E team with TAG Heuer as title and timing partner in 2019, marking a starting point for an even more powerful and far-reaching collaboration.

New sports partnerships
In its second year, the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team will now fight for the World Championship. Behind the wheel of Porsche’s all-electric racecar, the 99X Electric, will be drivers André Lotterer and his new teammate, Pascal Wehrlein. Porsche has long distinguished itself in endurance events and together with TAG Heuer its GT Team is well prepared for the coming FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC). The milestone year will also include series partnerships in ten editions of the worldwide one-make cup series Porsche Carrera Cup. In addition to physical competitions, TAG Heuer also engages in virtual racing by supporting the Porsche TAG Heuer Esports Supercup. In addition, the watch brand is stepping in as global partner in Porsche’s ‘classic’ events and rallies.

Moreover, both brands share their strong passion for tennis and golf. The main tennis event is the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart. This was launched in 1978, and the sports car manufacturer has been the organizer since 2002. TAG Heuer will accompany the event, which has repeatedly been named the most popular tournament in its category, as an official partner for watches and chronographs. In golf, Porsche has been the title sponsor of the Porsche European Open, one of the most traditional tournaments on the European Tour, since 2015. This year, TAG Heuer will be present as a partner for the first time here.

Finally, the brands are committed to creating unforgettable moments together in the future through the various Porsche Experiences.

The TAG Heuer Carrera Porsche Chronograph

Carrera as an icon of a name has been associated with Porsche and TAG Heuer for generations – so it was a natural choice for the first creative product collaboration. A tribute to the heritage of two brands, the new chronograph offers a first glimpse at what they can achieve together and is a seamless blend of the Porsche and TAG Heuer universes, reflecting the excellence of both names without diluting the essence of either.

Porsche’s engraved inscription is visible on the bezel and the unmistakable font is also used for the indexes. The Porsche colours of red, black, and grey – which also recall historic Heuer models – are incorporated throughout the watch, and on clear display through the transparent cristal case back is the oscillating mass, which has been redesigned in affectionate tribute to Porsche’s celebrated steering wheel. It is printed with “Porsche” and “TAG Heuer”.

The dial’s asphalt effect, created especially for this watch, expresses a passion for the road, while Arabic numerals suggest the numbers on the dashboard of fine Porsche sportscars. The timepiece is presented either on a soft strap in luxurious calf leather and innovative stitching that echoes the Porsche interior or on an interlocking bracelet reflecting streamlined racing design. At the heart of the timepiece is the in-house Calibre Heuer 02 manufacture movement with an impressive 80-hour power reserve.

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RICHARD MILLE – RM 27-04 TOURBILLON RAFAEL NADAL

RICHARD MILLE – RM 27-04 TOURBILLON RAFAEL NADAL

CELEBRATING A 10-YEAR PARTNERSHIP

Manual winding tourbillon movement with hours and minutes
• Calibre can resist accelerations of over 12,000 g’s, a record for Richard Mille
• Case produced in a brand new material exclusive to the watchmaking brand: TitaCarb®
• Limited edition of 50 watches

Two men, each with a dream. A dream of pushing back the boundaries of time, or those of performance. One of them on clay, keeping his eyes on the ball; the other with his face turned to time itself. Yet both combine technique, harmony and accuracy while resisting the hard knocks, and inevitable shocks of sporting life.

For Rafael Nadal, ‘unstoppable’ is the word that best expresses the spirit of Richard Mille and his teams. Achieving the impossible. This has been the brand’s credo for the past decade in designing the unique pieces worn by the Spaniard on the world’s tennis courts. And the latest product of their partnership, the RM 27-04, is no exception to this golden rule.

The RM 27-04 balances a lightweight design–at 30 grams including the strap–with tremendous resistance. Its tourbillon calibre, which is suspended within the case, can resist accelerations of more than 12,000 g’s, a record for Richard Mille. The movement is entirely supported by a micro-blasted mesh just 855 square millimetres in surface, comprised of a single cable in braided steel measuring 0.27mm in diameter, and held in place by two tensioners in PVD-treated 5N gold. This construction is unprecedented in the world of watchmaking.

Inspired by the same principle as the strings of a tennis racquet, the watchmaker anchors the steel cable to a tensioner positioned at 5 o’clock and then begins to create the mesh, tying each of the main strings before adding the cross strings. Weaving above and below the main strings, the cable passes 38 times through the hollow bezel in grade 5 titanium before finishing in a tensioner positioned at 10 o’clock. The movement is positioned diagonally, connected to the mesh by five grade 5 polished titanium hooks with 5N gold PVD coating that extend from the back of the baseplate.

However, the singularities of the RM 27-04 do not end with its mesh. The case, with its sandblasted and polished surfaces, is also innovative in its use of an exclusive material, TitaCarb®. This highperformance polyamide has been strengthened with a 38.5% carbon fibre content.

This addition of carbon gives TitaCarb® exceptional tensile strength—370 MPa (3,700 kg/cm2)—making it one of the most resistant polymers in the world.

This new model fits in perfectly with the previous watch collections created for the Spanish champion. It is unique in more ways than one, as it also marks the 10th anniversary of the partnership between

Rafael Nadal and Richard Mille. Initially a purely professional rapport, the collaboration between the 12-time French Open winner and the founder of the brand that bears his name has since turned into a solid friendship. A ‘ very special’ relationship, according to the Majorcan, this friendship grows constantly from their mutual trust and admiration for their respective careers.

The RM 27-04 is the new ally on court for ‘ Rafa’, whose shortened version of his name is engraved on the case band. This watch, a limited edition of 50 pieces, will accompany Rafael Nadal in his quest for new trophies.

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Jaeger-LeCoultre celebrates Cinema at the 76th Venice International Film Festival of la Biennale di Venezia

Jaeger-LeCoultre celebrates Cinema at the 76th Venice International Film Festival of la Biennale di Venezia

Venice, August 30th, 2019 – in the magical city of Venice, Jaeger-LeCoultre celebrated the 15th anniversary of its partnership with Venice International Film Festival by hosting an intimate dinner in the exceptional setting of the Granai di Cipriani.

Set between sea and sky on the island of Giudecca, with stunning views across the Lagoon to Piazza San Marco, the fairytale location perfectly expresses the Celestial theme chosen by the Swiss Maison this year. Paying homage to the stars and planets that have always determined how mankind measures time, the celestial theme is also a loving tribute to the star-studded night sky above Jaeger-LeCoultre’s home in Switzerland’s Vallée de Joux.

Hosted by Catherine Rénier, Chief Executive Officer of Jaeger-LeCoultre, guests from all over the world were joined by Friends of the Maison Nicholas Hoult, Amanda Seyfried, Ni Ni and Italian actress Alessandra Mastronardi, to pay tribute to great cinema and honour the art of time.

In an ambience of great charm and refinement, they witnessed the unveiling of four beautiful new watches inspired by the stars of the night sky. A beautiful, fully gem-set interpretation of the Dazzling Rendez-Vous Moon combines the icy sparkle of diamonds with the warmth of pink gold and glowing mother of pearl; its sumptuous bracelet is set with white diamonds, linked seamlessly together to wrap around the wrist as softly as a ribbon.

Inspired by the otherworldly beauty of the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights), two new interpretations of the splendid Rendez-Vous Celestial watch unite two of the Metiers Rares® that Jaeger-LeCoultre has so thoroughly mastered – gem-setting, and hand-painting. A glittering bezel set with a colour-graduated circle of baguette-cut sapphires surrounds a mother-of-pearl dial that has been hand-painted to echo the ethereal patterns of the Aurora Borealis.

In addition, Jaeger-LeCoultre has reinterpreted its magnificent Master Grande Tradition Tourbillon Céleste, with a sleek new-generation case and subtle refinement of the dial. While appearing to have been simplified, the dial has in fact gained an extra dimension thanks to the use of Super-LumiNova™, which gives a heavenly glow to the hour markers and constellations in low light.

For this special celebration of the arts of cinema and fine watchmaking, Michelin-starred chef Christian Le Squer, of Restaurant Le Cinq in Paris, flew to Venice and created a special menu to complement the celestial theme and capture the beauty of the setting.

Thanks to the many values it shares with the art of filmmaking, Jaeger-LeCoultre is deeply attached to the world of cinema and, through its long-standing partnership with the Venice International Film Festival, is proud to contribute to the appreciation and advancement of the cinematic arts.

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