Taking Indian Cinema to glorious pinnacles beyond national shores, and across four continents and 10 countries, the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) today announced that the 13th IIFA Weekend and Awards will be held in Singapore from June 7-9, 2012.
Having left an indelible footprint in China, Europe, the Middle East, Thailand, Sri Lanka and Canada over the last 12 years, the Videocon IIFA Weekend 2012 is gearing up for three days of action-packed, celebrations in the Lion City. Presented by Videocon Industries and Wizcraft International Entertainment and supported by the Singapore Tourism Board, the much-anticipated IIFA celebrations were heralded in Singapore today by superstars Anil Kapoor and Bipasha Basu.
Over the years, IIFA has emerged as the most prestigious platform recognizing excellence in the Indian film industry. Year on year, the biggest names of Indian cinema congregate at the IIFA Weekend and Awards to celebrate the best contribution made to the world of films in the previous year. 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.
"With the promise of bringing the best and the biggest of events to its viewers in a manner that's unique and entertaining, the IIFA Weekend and Awards have today become an iconic platform that the world respects. It has been my pleasure to be associated with IIFA for over a decade and once again, on behalf of IIFA and the Indian film industry, we commit to give our audience in Singapore the opportunity to witness one of the finest celebrations of culture and cinema ever held," said actor Anil Kapoor.
Pradeep Dhoot, director of Videocon Group said, "Videocon and IIFA share a common vision to showcase India across the globe. Videocon is a leading brand of consumer electronics and home appliance that is driven by the philosophy of innovation and customer centricity. Our brand is trusted by millions on our ability to improve their quality of life, through our wide range of products and highly-efficient customer service. Videocon is delighted to be associated with the Videocon IIFA Weekend for the fourth year in a row."
After its successful staging in 2004, IIFA returns for the second time to the island nation, making it only the third nation to host the IIFA celebrations twice. IIFA 2004 witnessed a contingent of over 450 stars, celebrities, cricketers, industrialists and government leaders over the festive weekend. The impact of IIFA Singapore was experienced across tourism influx, investments into Singapore and closer ties between India and Singapore.
Long-time IIFA supporter, Bipasha Basu said, "IIFA is the most respected cinema Awards and something I look forward to every year. Having performed at several IIFAs, I know the Videocon IIFA Weekend celebrations to be simply outstanding. It's a great opportunity for me to be here in Singapore personally to represent Indian Cinema on such a global platform. I'm sure that this year's IIFA will be a phenomenal success."
Wiz Sabbas Joseph, director of Wizcraft International Entertainment said, "Our focus is to showcase the best of Indian cinema to the world. With the unparalleled success of IIFA Singapore in 2004 we are back here to relive the magic. We have only just opened the Wizcraft Event Management operations in Singapore and are delighted to showcase our most prestigious creation, IIFA once again in Singapore. We hope that the IIFAs help bring India and Singapore closer together."
A destination as colourful and warm as Indian Cinema itself, Singapore has been a popular location for filming and the screening of Indian films. Singapore is multi-cultural and cosmopolitan with stunning architecture, a vibrant arts scene, vast gastronomic draw, strong trade relations and also has a significant population comprising the South Asian diaspora making it an ideal destination to host the IIFA.
Nitin Vaidya, business head, Hindi channels, STAR India said, "For years, STAR Plus and IIFA have showcased Indian cinema across the global stage. It is with great pride that we announce bringing the Awards to Singapore. There's a genuine appreciation and huge following for Indian cinema in Singapore and this is complemented by the large Indian-origin population in the city state. We look forward to another magnificent event this year with IIFA 2012."
Come June 7-9, Bollywood fans in Singapore will have a chance to get up close and personal with their favourites from the world of Indian Cinema. The celebrations have only begun at IIFA 2012 and there is a long list of surprises lined up for the audience globally!
The IIFA Weekend is presented by Videocon and the prestigious night of nights, the IIFA Awards will be broadcast globally on Star Plus, for the 7th year running.
The IIFA Weekend Schedule with dates and venues are:
June 7: IIFA World Premiere: Lido Cinemas, Shaw Theatre
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