Vancouver bids to host IIFA in 2013

New Delhi, Nov 14 (IANS) Vancouver in Canada is in the running to host in 2013 the Bollywood extravaganza -- the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Weekend and Awards.

Christy Clark, the premier of British Columbia, has invited Wizcraft International Entertainment-owned property IIFA to hold its 14th edition in Vancouver. The 12th edition took place in Toronto this year.

'If you could put what happened in Toronto in Vancouver, it will be great. Vancouver has a vast Indian population and one of the youngest Indian populations in Canada. It is a place where IIFA will feel at home,' Clark said in a statement.

Clark met members from the Hindi film fraternity including IIFA Advisory Board members; Ramesh Sippy, president of the Film and Television Producers Guild; actor superstar Anil Kapoor and others in Mumbai Sunday.

She tried her best to sell Vancouver as a perfect destination for IIFA - an annual three-day celebration of Indian Cinema with a film festival, briefings, a worldwide film premiere, a global business forum, an IIFA Foundation charity event and the IIFA Awards night.

'We put up a great show for the Winter Olympics 2010 and we will put up a great show for IIFA. If we can bring IIFA to Vancouver, there are so many things we can communicate through this wonderful medium, the business of doing business.

'I promise you, we know we have to do a lot work to bring IIFA to Vancouver. It is the heart of creativity in Canada and it is also the gateway to North America in more ways than one. People will say, 'Man, those Winter Olympics were good but IIFA was better!' she added.

Clark also invited industry stalwarts, actors, directors and producers, among others to come to British Columbia to shoot Indian movies.

Andre Timmins, the IIFA director, said: 'We are in the process of finalising the destination for IIFA 2012 and 2013. The remarkable success over the years and especially after its North American premiere in Toronto earlier this year, IIFA has sparked global interest and we have received several bids from countries vying to host the Weekend and Awards.

'We understand this as a sign of the growing importance of India in the world economy and how the Indian film industry has become an international phenomenon and we hope to further this endeavour,' he added.

The IIFA destination for 2012 has not been decided yet.

Copyright  IANS

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