Ontario Gearing Up For International Indian Film Academy Celebrations
January 19, 2011
Three-Day Festival Includes Global Business Forum
Premier Dalton McGuinty joined Bollywood stars Preity Zinta and Anil Kapoor to announce details of the 2011 International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Weekend and Awards.
Toronto is the first North American city to host the prestigious event which runs from June 23 to 25, 2011. The three-day celebration of South Asian film and culture includes a world film premiere, awards gala, fashion show and a wide range of affordable community events for families in Toronto, Brampton, Mississauga and Markham.
The IIFA Weekend and Awards also features a global business forum with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry. The forum will help strengthen investment and trade opportunities between Ontario and India.
The IIFA Weekend and Awards is expected to attract nearly 40,000 visitors. Hundreds of millions of viewers around the world are expected to tune in on television to watch the awards gala that will showcase Toronto and Ontario.
Local children will also benefit from the IIFA Weekend and Awards. IIFA highlights the work of prominent charities during the awards weekend. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Toronto, York and Peel were selected as the designated charities for IIFA this year.
Promoting Ontario as an international destination for tourism, culture and business is part of the McGuinty government’s Open Ontario Plan.
View more photos at the Premier’s Flickr page CLICK HERE
QUICK FACTS
- Almost 600,000 Ontarians have roots in India and maintain close ties to Indian culture.
- Trade between Ontario and India amounted to $1.5 billion in 2009, up by over 90 per cent since 2003.
- Premier McGuinty has led two trade missions to India that resulted in 52 agreements with projects valued at $650 million.
