Metro Hotels is a Foundation Partner of The Big Picture Film Festival, a unique collection of exciting, new documentary and fiction films from around the world which take a stand against social inequality. 

In its second year, The Big Picture Film Festival will be held from March 19 - 29, 2014 at Event Cinemas in Sydney and Liverpool, during which time 17 social justice documentaries and fiction films will be screened. All profits from the Festival will go to the Bill Crews Charitable Trust, which helps poor and often homeless children in Thailand, Hong Kong and Africa.

The Festival's vision is to showcase a select number of award-winning films from around the world that will make people watch, think, and ultimately be inspired to get involved in social justice causes.

Festival Manager, Jane Keneally said "We need to recognise that we are all part of a larger community that has the power to change people's perceptions and make a difference."

Some of the highlights from the 2014 program include Oscar nominated The Missing Picture, documenting the despotic Pol Pot regime; Belle, which pits race and pride against tradition and social standing; Blood Brother, the uplifting and inspiring story of a young American who leaves his comfortable life to help HIV infected children in India; and Half of a Yellow Sun that chronicles an extended family's perseverance during Nigeria's brutal civil war from 1967-1970.

Metro Hotels is the only hotel group to partner with the Festival and sits alongside other prestigious Foundation Partners including the Event Cinemas, Channel 7 and the Macquarie Radio Network.

Metro Hotels' Chief Operating Officer, Mr George Bedwani, said the Australian hotel chain was committed to supporting the arts, including international theatrical and musical shows touring in Australia.

"Metro Hotels has a long history of supporting the arts, including Japanese performing troupe Drum Tao, Chinese classical dance and music company, Shen Yun, Mother Africa and The Merchants of Bollywood," Mr Bedwani said.

While partnering with film is a new venture for us, we were particularly interested in supporting The Big Picture Film Festival because of the social justice aspect of the films, and the opportunity to work with The Bill Crews Charitable Trust."

Metro Hotels is the public face of Transmetro Corporation, an Australian owned public company listed on the Australian Stock Exchange. The Group currently provides a national accommodation network of properties, with over 1000 rooms in key locations and major cities across Australia.

For more information, please contact Sarah Peattie, Peattie Public Relations on (02) 9357 7775.