Vancouver bids for hosting 14th IIFA Weekend

Christy Clark, the Premier of British Columbia, a province in Canada today invited the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) to celebrate the 14th IIFA Weekend and Awards in the city of Vancouver in 2013.

In a meet and greet with members from film fraternity including IIFA advisory board members, president of the Film and Television Producers Guild, Ramesh Sippy, international superstar Anil Kapoor and senior members of the Hindi film industry, Premier Clark announced plans to host IIFA.

Maharashtra Minister for PWD and Tourism Chhagan Bhujbal was also present at the meeting.

Bidding for the 14th IIFA Weekend and Awards, Clark said, "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."

"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. Vancouver is the heart of creativity in Canada and it is also the gateway to North America in more ways than one," he said.

He invited industry stalwarts, actors, directors and producers, among others to come to British Columbia as the Province opens its  doors to the filming of Indian movies.

With its scenic landscapes, British Columbia would make for an ideal venue for shooting Indian films.

Andre Timmins, director, IIFA 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 Tornoto earlier this year, IIFA has sparked global interest and we have received several bids from countries vying to host the Weekend and Awards."