SARASOTA, Fla. – Feb. 25, 2008 – The luxury real estate brokerage firm, SKY Sotheby’s International Realty, is pleased to announce it’s exclusive five-year sponsorship of the Sarasota Film Festival as a Lead Sponsor. The Sarasota Film Festival returns for its 10th season from April 4 – 13.
“We are delighted to be part of the Sarasota Film Festival, which has become such a respected event in our community,” says Chad Roffers, President, SKY Sotheby’s International Realty. “This Festival does a wonderful job of showcasing Sarasota and attracting visitors to our area. Likewise, we share the same goal of generating exposure for our community and the amazing things it offers.”
SKY Sotheby’s International Realty will hold its annual Spring Auction of luxury properties in conjunction with the Festival on April 11 at the Longboat Key Club and Resort. A percentage of the auction’s net proceeds will be donated to the Festival’s outreach and education department, which offers the community fun and stimulating year-round programs that foster creative and cultural development for people of all ages.
“We are thrilled to have SKY Sotheby’s as a sponsor of the Sarasota Film Festival. It is one of the largest corporate sponsorships in our Festival’s history and we look forward to working together to promote Sarasota and Florida’s Gulf Coast as a destination and place to live,” says Jody Kielbasa, Executive Director, Sarasota Film Festival. “As we enter our 10th year, we hope that the Festival will continue to generate excitement and sizzle, and that this is the start of a beautiful relationship.”
Annually featuring more than 150 films, the Festival is attended by celebrities such as Felicity Huffman, William H. Macy, Kevin Bacon, Chevy Chase and Allison Janney. The Festival will kick off with the Opening Night Film and Gala on April 4 and end with the 10th Anniversary Ball and Late Night Wrap Party on April 12. For more information about the Sarasota Film Festival, visit its Web site at www.sarasotafilmfestival.com.
Those interested in more information about the 2008 Spring Auction should call 888-966-4759 or visit www.luxuryportfolioauctions.com.
About SKY Sotheby’s International Realty
As Sarasota’s leading luxury real estate brokerage and exclusive Sotheby’s affiliate, SKY Sotheby’s International Realty represents the area’s most distinctive properties and people. Combining the impeccable customer service of a boutique firm with the global resources and 200-year-old reputation of the Sotheby’s brand, the company offers a unique and highly- personalized approach to the Southwest Florida luxury real estate market. Since its formation in January 2004, the employee-owned company has enjoyed unprecedented momentum and unusual success driven by a strong focus on the customer. Connecting qualified buyers and sellers from around the world, SKY Sotheby’s International Realty has local offices in Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch, Longboat Key and Osprey, as well as Minnesota, and is part of the Sotheby’s global network of affiliates in 35 countries and 275 cities. Experience the SKY Sotheby's difference at www.skysothebysrealty.com.
About Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates, Inc.
Founded in 1976 to provide independent brokerages with a powerful marketing and referral program for luxury listings, the Sotheby’s International Realty® network was designed to connect the finest independent real estate companies to the most prestigious clientele in the world. In February 2004, Cendant Corporation (NYSE: CD), the world’s leading real estate brokerage franchisor, entered into a long-term strategic alliance with Sotheby’s Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: BID; LSE: STBA). The agreement provided for the licensing of the Sotheby’s International Realty® name and the development of a full franchise system by Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates, Inc., a Cendant subsidiary. The agreement also included the acquisition of the company-owned real estate brokerage offices by NRT Incorporated, a Cendant subsidiary that owns and operates those offices today as Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc. Affiliations in the system are granted only to brokerages and individuals meeting strict qualifications. Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates, Inc. supports its affiliates with a host of operational, marketing, recruiting, educational and business development resources. Franchise affiliates also benefit from an association with the venerable, 260-year-old Sotheby’s auction house. For more information, visit www.sothebysrealty.com.