Lion City, Singapore to play host to the 13th IIFA Weekend & Awards from 7th - 9th June, 2012 13th IIFA Celebrations kick-start with global Indian Cinema superstars Anil Kapoor and Bipasha Basu

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 7th - 9th June 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 who met with media and key stakeholders at the Fairmont Singapore and Swissotel, The Stamford.

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. The IIFA Weekend is the largest South Asian celebrations event and the IIFA Awards recognizes outstanding film achievements and is among the most-watched global events, annually.

Friend of IIFA, Mr. Anil Kapoor said, "With the promise of bringing the best and the biggest of events to Indian cinema fans 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."

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.

Ms. Aw Kah Peng, Chief Executive, Singapore Tourism Board said, "We are delighted IIFA is returning to Singapore after eight years. Since it was last hosted here in 2004, IIFA has grown from strength to strength, and its festivities have proven to have strong tourism relevance and appeal, attracting quality visitors to its host country. We are also pleased that Wizcraft has decided to set up their regional office right here in Singapore to oversee its operations South East Asia, East Asia and Pacific. We believe this affirms Singapore's growing stature as a destination for music and entertainment businesses, and hope that it will catalyse more opportunities to attract innovative entertainment concepts and business owners to our shores."

Long-time IIFA supporter, Ms. 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 IIFA 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, 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."

Mr. Pradeep Dhoot, Director - Videocon Group says "Videocon and IIFA share a common vision to showcase India across the globe. Videocon is a household name and India's No. 1 brand of Consumer Electronics and Home Appliance that iss 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."

Mr. 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."

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.

Come June 7th - 9th, 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, while it would be broadcast on Mediacorp'sVasantham channel in Singapore. The 13th IIFA Weekend and Awards is supported by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB). The Straits Times Life is the Official Media Partner in Singapore. The Weekend is also supported by the Buddy Group for corporate hospitality management. For more details on Corporate Hospitality in Singapore, do contact Ms. Karishma Khanna : +65 81189144

The IIFA Weekend Schedule with dates and venues are:

June 7: IIFA World Premiere: Lido Cinemas, Shaw Theatre
June 8: IIFA Rocks
June 9: IIFA Awards, Singapore Indoor Stadium

About IIFA Conceptualized and produced by Wizcraft International Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. and supported by the key members of the Indian film fraternity, IIFA is the most appreciated South Asian film academy. Also, the IIFA Awards is India's biggest media event. With a viewership of almost 700 million, it is among the world's most-watched annual entertainment events.

From a one night celebration in 2000 at the Millennium Dome, London, the last ten years have seen the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) movement grow into a packed weekend of film-festivals, workshops, exhibitions, film-showcases, a global business forum and sporting events, all of which climax into the highlight of the Weekend, the IIFA Awards.

Tickets at Sistic