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16th May 2008

RIAS brings big screen to over 50s for free

RIAS today announces details of a unique event, designed to delight mature film fans. It’s an exciting opportunity for the over 50s to see a FREE screening of The Oxford Murders, starring John Hurt, courtesy of the RIAS sponsored ODEON Senior Screen. Audiences aged 50 or above will be able to see the recently released thriller free of charge, at all 76 participating cinemas*. And, as an extra bonus, every audience member will also receive a gift – a complimentary copy of the awardwinning novel that inspired it, The Oxford Murders, by Argentine mathematician and writer Guillermo Martinez. Event organiser, ODEON, anticipates huge demand for seats, so entry will be on a first-come-first-served basis and people are encouraged to get to the cinema in good time to avoid disappointment.

“This is an unprecedented event,” says RIAS Managing Director Janet Connor. “With this free film and book promotion, we are presenting the over 50s with a fantastic opportunity to have some fun without having to dip into their pockets, and it’s one which we hope will bring a lot of pleasure to those who enjoy going to the cinema. We have watched ODEON Senior Screen audiences grow throughout the RIAS sponsorship, so we know it is a very popular pastime for this age group, and this oneoff event celebrates that in style!”

The Oxford Murders is a 2008 thriller film adapted from Martinez’s novel and is directed by Alex de la Iglesia who chose to film most of the action in Oxford itself.

John Hurt is cast in the role of a prestigious ‘professor of logic’ at the University, who meets up with American graduate student Martin, played by Elijah Wood (Lord of the Rings), to solve a crime and prevent a series of murders. Now in his 60s, Hurt is himself a supporter of the ODEON Senior Screen concept and when told by RIAS that the over 50s now make up a third of UK cinema audiences, he said: “It is encouraging to know that there is a large proportion of mature viewers. I don't think that we cater for them nearly well enough!”

The free film will be shown on different dates in May and June, depending upon location:

Free film screening dates:

30th May: Tunbridge

2nd June: Darlington

3rd June: Ayr, Basingstoke, Beckenham, Bracknell, Braehead, Chatham, Colchester, Coventry, East Kilbridge, Edinburgh Lothian, Edinburgh West Hailes, Gateshead, Gerrards Cross, Glasgow Quay, Greenwich, Harrogate, Hastings, Holloway, Hull, Kilmarnock, Lincoln, Maidenhead, Maidstone, Muswell Hill, Norwich, Port Solent, Richmond, Silverlink, Southampton, Swansea, Tamworth, Trafford, Uxbridge, Warrington, Allerton

18th June: Aylesbury, Banbury, Barnet, Bath, Blackpool, Bournemouth, Bridgend, Bromborough, Canterbury, Cardiff, Dumfermline, Dumfries, Epsom, Kettering, Leeds/Bradford, Leicester, Oxford – George Street, Putney, Rochdale, Salisbury, Sheffield, Stoke on Trent, Streatham, Wimbledon, Worcester, Wrexham

19th June: Birmingham, Brighton, Bristol, Dudley, Esher, Guildford, Hereford, Kingston-upon-Thames, Mansfield, Nuneaton, Telford, Weston-Super-Mare

Janet Connor, Managing Director of RIAS is available for further comment and interview. To arrange an interview with, or photography of, Janet, please call Sadie Sheppard on 01202 254489 or e-mail ssheppard@rias.co.uk

About RIAS

• RIAS was established in 1992 and is a specialist provider of insurance products for the over 50s age group

• RIAS negotiates with a panel of insurers to secure competitive, value for money products

• RIAS has over 970,000 customers and employs over 1,200 people across two locations - Bournemouth and Belfast

• In July 2007 RIAS’ home insurance contents and buildings policies received four ‘Best Buy’ awards from Which? magazine

• In December 2007 RIAS won the ‘Personal Lines Broker of the year" award at the Insurance Times awards

For further information:

Sadie Sheppard RIAS Public Relations 01202 254489 ssheppard@rias.co.uk

www.rias.co.uk