M&C Saatchi Shows Support For The Arts With 'Keep Our Festival Alive'

M&C Saatchi has donated its services to create a campaign designed to drive donations for Sydney Film Festival (SFF).

Over 65 years, the Festival has become a shared experience that feels like it is owned by the film-goers. But the growing stature of the event means corporate and government funding isn't enough to sustain it. As a not-for-profit, the SFF needs a groundswell of philanthropy from its Festival-goers.

The zombie film has long been a beloved cinematic genre which has been resurrected for the entertaining and controversial campaign which features a seriously pissed off (and quite sweary) zombie, Rhys Muldoon, whose pleas for donations are rudely interrupted by his deteriorating limbs.

Says Cam Blackley, chief creative officer for M&C Saatchi: "Charities appeal for donations in many ways but only the Sydney Film Festival would attempt it while the presenter's body falls apart in full Dolby surround sound. We had a blast working with a great client to keep a Sydney cultural event alive and we're also dead pleased to have ticked the 'Zombie Schlock' genre off our bucket lists too."

Says Leigh Small, CEO, Sydney Film Festival: "We needed a creative way to get the message out to Festival-goers about the need for individual philanthropy.

"We are so incredibly lucky to have collaborated with the best in the industry to create this fantastic campaign including seasoned advertising gurus M&C Saatchi, film production company Barefoot Communications who produced last year's Opening Night film, We Don't Need a Map, animation experts at Animal Logic, prosthetic artists from MEG, Soundfirm, Rumble and Panavision, who have all kindly donated their services and expertise."