Amitabh Bachchan inaugurates IIFA Voting Weekend by casting the first vote
Speaking on the occasion, IIFA Brand Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan said, “Casting my vote is important as it gives me a chance to participate in the decision making process with my peers in the Indian film industry.
It is very heartening to see IIFA grow in scale and prominence over the years. IIFA entering its 9th year is a testament to its endurance and importance in the industry.
The credible and distinct place that IIFA enjoys in the Indian film industry is due to the professional and confidential election process that ultimately decides the nominations and awards.
IIFAs adherence to international guidelines is critical to the results, which are only revealed on the IDEA IIFA Awards night.”
The IIFA Weekend and the IDEA IIFA Awards, spearheaded by Wizcraft International Entertainment is a movement dedicated to promoting Indian cinema and business across the world, providing a global pedestal to encourage international interaction and further business opportunities between India and the host countries.
The IIFA Voting process is a stringent and methodical procedure that is closely monitored by PriceWaterHouse Coopers, the official auditors for the event.
To begin with, the Industry is invited to cast their votes and shortlist nominations in the category of the Popular Awards. The Technical Award winners and the Popular Award nominations are derived from this voting weekend.
The popular category nominations are put up on iifabuzz.com for the global audience to participate in the voting process. The final winners of the IDEA IIFA Awards are revealed by PriceWaterHouse Coopers only on the night of the Awards ceremony when the envelope is opened on stage, in front of the live audience.
The results are kept secret and the credibility of the voting process is one of the key parameters of this prestigious award.
Also present at the occasion were IIFA Weekend 2008 associates and supporters, CMO of IDEA Cellular Pradeep Shrivastava, Star TV CEO Uday Shankar, Head of the Tourism Authority of Thailand in India Mr.Chattan Ayudhya, Gitanjali Group GM Commercial Anuj Rakyn, Wizcraft Directors, Andre Timmins, Sabbas Joseph and Viraf Sarkari amongst others.
Sharing his views on the long-standing association with IIFA, Managing Director of IDEA Cellular, Mr. Sanjeev Aga said, “We are proud to be associated with the IIFA movement in recognising the worthy talent in the Indian film industry.
We are keenly looking forward to the celebrations at the IDEA IIFA Awards in Bangkok this year. In this day and age of convergence, the IDEA IIFA Awards signal the coming together of two powerful mediums – Television and Mobile.
The day is not far when the power of television will be available on the IDEA mobile platform.” This year, the IIFA Weekend will be held from June 6-8, 2008 in the amazing city of Bangkok, Thailand which is South East Asia’s premier location drawing over 12 million visitors a year.
Thailand is renowned for its stunning natural beauty, ancient temples and hospitable people. Bangkok is a modern city that retains its historical traits. It is an economic and financial centre with a wealth of cultural sites, making it one of the world's most popular tourist destinations.
The people of Thailand believe in honesty, enterprise, delivering on promises, striving to achieve success and creating opportunities for all.
The IIFA Weekend is the perfect platform for people and businesses to come together and collaborate to create economic opportunities for the region.
“IIFA has travelled to six countries across the world and has left a mark in the minds and hearts of the people.
The IIFA Weekend in Bangkok will install yet another milestone in our endeavors to continue to take Indian Cinema to the Global platform.
The IIFA Weekend is the perfect platform for people and businesses to come together and collaborate to create economic opportunities for the region.