May 16, 2003
By Bongani Majola
THE biggest event on the Bollywood calendar, the fourth International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards, undoubtedly the equivalent of Hollywood's Oscar Awards, takes place at the Dome in Northgate on 17 May.
The event is sponsored by, among others, the City of Johannesburg, SA Tourism, South African Airways, Sony Entertainment Television and Sahara Computers. Southern Sun Hotels is providing accommodation for international guests, film industry players and media that have descended on Johannesburg.
Launched three years ago at the Millennium Dome in London, the event has grown into a three-day extravaganza of movie premiers, discussion forums on Indian cinema, an IIFA charity cricket match, interaction with global media as well as the actual awards presentation.
Speaking on behalf of the organisers, Gitanjali Balani said on Thursday "already a whole host of celebrities and Bollywood stars have descended onto Johannesburg, including Amitabh Bachnan, Anil Kapoor, Lara Dutta, Chunky Pandey and Diya Mirza".
The events around the awards give film producers and directors a chance to gather and discuss some of the key issues impacting on the industry, said Balani, "and at the same time network with their South African counterparts".
SA Tourism head Cheryl Carolus said the decision to bring the awards to South Africa came at a time when the country, one of the world's fastest growing tourism, convention and movie-making destinations, was still frolicking in the immense global awareness made during the recent Cricket World Cup.
"We are fully appreciative of the fact that the eyes of the world will be on South Africa in May during the IIFA weekend and we are thrilled that the organisers have taken up our call to live to the moment in deciding that now is the time to visit South Africa," Carolus said.
The Indian film industry produces 800 films every year, according to a statement by the organisers, "the largest number in the world, and it sells six billion tickets world wide and grosses more than $200 million yearly internationally". This year, reads the statement, "IIFA has focussed on the internationalisation of Indian cinema".
On the voting credibility of the awards, Indian acting legend and IIFA ambassador for the ceremony Amitabh Bachnan said PriceWaterhouseCoopers, official auditors for the Hollywood Oscars, had independently "monitored all voting and audited and compiled the final list of nominees for IIFA 2003".
"It's a combination of the film industry voting and the viewers' choice that makes the awards truly unique and credible," said Bachnan.
There are 13 categories in the Popular Awards section, some of which include the Best Actor, Best Supporting Role, Best Director and Best Film. 14 categories of Technical Awards will also be honoured, including cinematography, screenplay, special effects, costume design and sound recording.
The awards ceremony, including the red carpet grand entrance, will be broadcast live and exclusive across the globe via Sony Entertainment Television and India's No.2 General Entertainment Channel from 20h00 on Saturday.
Tickets to the ceremony are available at Computicket, ranging from R500, R700 and R900.
