BritWeek²⁰⁰⁸ will be on a far larger scale. Commencing with Receptions at the British Consul General’s Residence on April 24th and April 26th and continuing into May 2008, it will celebrate the cultural and business connections between Britain and Los Angeles.

Building on the fact that April marks the 50th Anniversary of 450 South June Street as the permanent official Residence of the British Consul General in Los Angeles, BritWeek will celebrate fifty years of British links with Los Angeles and highlight the extent of the current relationship.

BritWeek’s objective is to generate publicity and broaden awareness of the importance of this relationship, in terms of ideas and investments in both directions; to highlight the fact that Britain is the largest investor in Southern California as well as a profitable investment destination for Californian companies; and emphasize British influences in film, TV, music, fashion and luxury lifestyle that are prevalent in Los Angeles life.


The BritWeek 2008 events will include:

Thursday, April 24 - Champagne Launch of BritWeek at the Residence 50th Anniversary (Invite Only)

Saturday, April 26 - Official 50th Anniversary Celebration of the Consulate Residence (Invite Only)

Thursday, May 1 - BAFTA/LA British Comedy Festival Presented by British Airways at the Four Seasons

Friday, May 2 - David Lean 100th Birthday Film Retrospective at the Egyptian Theatre hosted by David Thomson

Saturday, May 3 - The British in Hollywood from Chaplin to present day (1910 to 2008) hosted by Michael York

Sunday, May 4 - Duran Duran Concert at the Nokia Theatre

Saturday, May 10 - British Celebrity Soccer Match Hosted by Los Angeles Galaxy at the Home Depot Center

In honour of BritWeek 2008, the festival of British directors will be at LACMA from April 4-April 26. There will also be a David Lean festival at the Aero from May 7-May 15. For more details on the screenings, please visit www.britweek.org

The steering committee for BritWeek 2008 is chaired by British Consul General Bob Peirce and includes Nigel Lythgoe.

BritWeek 2008’s sponsors are 19 Entertainment, Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Megastore, bp, British American Business Council, UK Trade & Investment, Diageo, BAFTA/LA, Rolls Royce/MINIUSA, BBC, HBO, Air New Zealand, UK Film Council US, The Body Shop, and The Douris Corporation.