SHOWCASE TO SPONSOR INSIDE OUT FILM FESTIVAL
By Adnews Staff
Toronto-based specialty cable channel Showcase has signed an exclusive three-year deal to be the presenting sponsor of the Toronto Lesbian & Gay Film & Video Festival, operated by non-profit organization Inside Out. According to the company, this is the largest sponsorship venture in Showcase's history. "We are proud to be the presenting sponsor of the festival," said Phyllis Yaffe, president of Showcase's corporate parent, Alliance Atlantis Broadcasting Inc. "Showcase is a destination channel for viewers looking for alternative drama and so this sponsorship fits perfectly with our programming mandate." In a release, the broadcaster noted that its audiences rose 50 percent during a Pride Week film festival it aired in June 1999. This year's Toronto Lesbian & Gay Film & Video Festival takes place in May.