IIFA Awards 2011 to be held in Ontario, Canada

Having travelled to locations like Great Britain, China, Europe, Middle East, Thailand and Sri Lanka in the past, the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) will make its North American debut in Ontario, Canada this year. The announcement was made at a Press Conference in Toronto attended by Honorable Premier of Ontario, Dalton McGuinty and Indian film stars Anil Kapoor and Preity Zinta. The three-day long IIFA Weekend and Awards is all set to take place from 23rd – 25th of June.
IIFA is a global platform that gives the Indian film fraternity an opportunity to reach audiences in international territories. It also establishes a symbiotic relationship between India and the host country in areas such as tourism, culture and trade. Canada has been a popular destination for filming and showcasing of Indian films and while many prominent films have been showcased at the Toronto International Film Festival, several movies have been filmed in this picturesque country, making it a great choice for this year’s IIFA celebrations.
Canada has an Asian population of over 960,000, with 550,000 Indians living in the Greater Toronto Area. This gives Indian Cinema a huge audience in Canada and makes it a very popular form of entertainment.
Longtime IIFA supporter, Indian cinema superstar, Anil Kapoor said, “IIFA’s journey over the last ten years has opened many doors for the Indian film Industry in the host country, be it in terms of film shooting avenues or the assistance given to filmmakers and producers from Government and Tourism bodies. IIFA has also helped propel Indian Cinema, by virtue of the deals that have been struck with production houses and the screening of our films that would have never had the opportunity to be showcased there, prior to the IIFA event.”
Preity Zinta added, “I think IIFA is a very novel venture and has allowed our Indian Film Fraternity to expand its wings over the globe with IIFA’s remarkable idea of taking the fraternity to different cities and countries each year. Through the 11 successful years that IIFA has completed, we have experienced unbelievable love from global fans. IIFA gives us the opportunity to see firsthand the support we are receiving beyond borders. I am very excited to see the IIFA action shift to Toronto this year, which shares a close association with India.”
Speaking on hosting IIFA 2011 in Ontario, Honorable Premier of Ontario, Dalton McGuinty shared, “Ontario’s diversity makes us stronger and the IIFA Weekend and Awards are proof of that. The weekend will build on the growing economic and cultural ties between our province and India and showcase Ontario to the world.”