RCN (News - Alert) Telecom Services, a broadband services provider delivering all-digital and high-definition video, high-speed Internet and premium phone services to residential and small-medium business customers, is the official sponsor for the Arlington International Film Festival (AIFF).

The Arlington International Film Festival, which seeks to use the power of film as a weapon to develop, promote and spread multicultural awareness and understanding runs from October 6 through October 9, at The Regent Theater.

In a press release, RCN Telecom announced that it shares the AIFF’s belief that the annual film festival can be a means for recognizing how diversity enriches our communities. RCN advocates the idea that with today’s technology, the TV channels and shows people watch in one country should be available in any country.

An International TV provider, RCN already broadcasts channels from more than 24 countries. The company said that it is going to add even more worldwide destinations to their Global Passport. At this juncture, RCN finds it a good opportunity to be able to be associated with an event such as The Arlington International Film Festival.

RCN was especially impressed by a special category in the film festival that accepts short film submissions from local high school students without any entry fees. Someday these young film makers’ works might be on scheduled programming on cable TV in Boston and around the world, RCN officials said in an encouraging note.

The non profit organization, Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA), which works to promote the rights and integration of immigrants and refugee, has been selected as this year’s non- profit fiscal agent of the film festival. RCN, Boston cable providers, invited everyone to show their support by attending the festival and making a donation to AIFF via MIRA here.

All donations will be tax deductible, the company added. The fund will be used for the welfare of the commonwealth’s one million foreign-born residents, providing them with policy analysis and advocacy, as well as training and leadership development.

In an earlier release, RCN announced its sponsorship of The Anti-Cruelty Society's annual "It's Raining Cats & Dogs" gala. The event took place on Friday, October 21, 2011 at the Palmer Hilton Chicago. The Anti-Cruelty Society is Chicago's oldest and largest private, open admission, unlimited stay humane society. On an annual basis, they help find homes for over 5,000 cats and dogs. In addition, they provide programs and services to over 50,000 animals and humans each year. These include: adoptions, (low or no-cost) spay/neuter clinic services, cruelty investigations, humane education, a free behavior hotline, dog training classes, rehabilitation and treatment centers and a charity veterinary clinic.