Melbourne to bid for Bollywood’s Oscar – IIFA Awards

Wednesday, 29 June 2011 14:01

Written by publisher

IIFA 2011 The city of Melbourne is looking to play host for IIFA after Canada hosted a marvellous stars studded in Toronto, Ontario.

The IIFA Awards are presented annually to honour artistic and technical excellence of professionals in Bollywood and celebrate the achievements of Indian cinema.

The awards ceremony is held in a different country around the world every year to demonstrate and promote the international business and bilateral trade between the host city and India.

Klubsutra.com Pty Ltd – Australia’s largest South East Asian Entertainment Company was appointed by International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) to work on the feasibility of undertaking IIFA Awards weekend in October 2009. Being IIFA’s exclusive associates in Asia Pacific region, KlubSutra.com also represents IIFA’s principal owners to various public bodies and stakeholders in Australia.

Over the last two years, Mr Ashish Mehta and Mr Ashish Chawla Directors of KlubSutra.com Pty Ltd had been working with some of the top officials from Victoria Major Events Corporation (VMEC) and other government bodies to finalise a formal plan to bid to host the 2012 edition of International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards in Melbourne. Prior to the last elections in Victoria the ruling Coalition had released a Bollywood Policy to boost the state’s relations with Bollywood.

The current Premier Mr.Ted Bailleu had then said that “Bollywood is a cultural and economic powerhouse in India and the sub-continent and Victoria can only benefit from a much closer relationship with India’s film industry,” The Bollywood policy included initiating a bid by the Victorian Major Events Corporation (VMEC) to gain for Melbourne the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards, the Academy Awards of India and Bollywood.

While attending the 12th IIFA Awards in Toronto, Mr Mehta and Mr Chawla met with Mr Dalton McGuinty (Hon. Premier of Ontario), Minister of Tourism and Culture - Michael Chan, Ms Sandra Pupatello (Minister of Economic Development and Trade), Mr Michael Langford (Director of Investments and Development Office - Sports Culture and Tourism Partnerships from the Ministry of Tourism and Culture).

Talking to the delegates from over twelve countries including Japan, Las Vegas, Greece,Switzerland, Italy, Portugal, UK, UAE and Australia, Michael Langford said, “Government ofOntario invested US$ 12 million to host 2011 edition of IIFA at Toronto and believed to have gained direct economic impact of over US$ 100 million in tourism. The returns of holding IIFA far exceeded the expectations estimated by the Government of Ontario.”

His Excellency Mr Stefan Trofimovs, Consul General of Australia & Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner, Australian Trade Commission, Canada was present during the opening media conference of IIFA Awards weekend on 23th June 2011. Mr Trofimovs along with Mr Shashi Tharoor (Minister of Parliament of India) also attended the FICCI Business Forums where more than 300 business leaders and companies from India and Ontario met to explore investment opportunities during IIFA's FICCI global business forum. Mr Stefan said Australia is ready to host IIFA was extremely impressed with the IIFA's presentation.

Ms Kelly Dickson from VMEC has seen IIFA in action in 2007 in Dubai. Ms Kelly and Mr Brendan Clements (CEO) VMEC were invited to attend the 12th IIFA in Canada and the list of invitees included Hon. Premier of Victoria Mr Ted. Bailleu, and other key ministers.
IIFA will have many benefits including strengthening cultural and economic ties between Victoria and India. “There is a good relationship already and we can do much better,” Mr Baillieu said in the Bollywood Policy released just before the elections. It will also help strengthen the strained relation due to the racial attacks in Victoria”, he said.

Talking to the Canadian media (CNBC), Mr. Mehta and Mr. Chawla said “We are impressed how well city of Toronto hosted the 12th IIFA weekend, and no doubt that this event has benefitted Canada in various sectors.” Further they said “But we know when IIFA is held in Melbourne, Australia they will be the best since the awards started in year 2000.” They also said “They are excited that hosting IIFA in Melbourne will strengthen already strong ties between Indian and Australia.”
KlubSutra.com Pty Ltd are closely working with VMEC to assist them in putting together a bid to host IIFA in the coming years.

KlubSutra.com Pty Ltd is one of the largest South East Asian entertainment and promotions company in Asia Pacific region: comprised of four market leaders: KlubSutra.com Live Entertainment, Mirchi Marketing, MM Film Distribution and MM Production Services.

KlubSutra.com Live Entertainment is the South East Asian events marketing and production leader with number of the Australia's top artists signed exclusively for events produced by the company.

IIFA 2011

KlubSutra.com is also enables over 90 advertisers to tap into the 200,000+ consumers through its live event and digital platforms.

Mirchi Marketing is the Australia's top artist management company, representing over 30 artists.
MM Film Distribution prides itself on its widespread network of local alliances within Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Singapore and Thailand, well maintained from our office in Brisbane.

MM Distribution has the most comprehensive media distribution lists to provide you with powerful targeting capabilities with 85 promoters in eight different cities.

MM Production Services is the latest business line added to the portfolio to provide services designed to meet the exacting needs of any offshore production filming anywhere in Australia.