NEW YORK CITY GEARS UP FOR THE 18TH EDITION OF THE IIFA WEEKEND AND AWARDS!

·         The 18th Edition Of Lycamobile Presents IIFA Festival New York in Association with McDonalds to be held from 13th – 15th July 2017 in the host city of New York

·         The 72 hours extravaganza, Eros Now IIFA Weekendco-presented by NEXA powered by VIVO will feature string of events and unique associations: Myntra presents IIFA Stomp, Shuruaat Gala Dinner IIFA Societal Innovation Summitin association with tGELF, The FICCI- IIFA Global Business Forum 2017, the spectacularEROS NOW IIFA Rocks and the one and only- The NEXA IIFA Awards Powered by VIVO

New York, 13th July 2017: The International Indian Film Academy have commenced today in the city of New York! The anticipation is building as IIFA travels to the United States for the second time. Known to be the center of entertainment, business, fashion and culture, the premiere edition of IIFA in New York is all set to be star studded event filled with splendor and revelry!

The 18th Edition of the IIFA Weekend and Awards began with an Official Press Conference held at the Metropolitan Ballroom at the Sheraton Times Square Hotel. The conference was attended by leading notable figures and members from the media, eminent Bollywood stars Salman Khan, Shahid Kapoor, Katrina Kaif, Alia Bhatt, Sushant Singh Rajput, Kriti Sanon, Varun Dhawan among others were in attendance as they welcomed the Biggest IFA ever in New York.

Commenting on the occasion, Andre Timmins, Director- Wizcraft International, the producers and creator of the IIFA movement says, “The 18th Edition of IIFA Weekend And Awards is going to be one of our biggest ever IIFA Festival to date.  We are bringing together the very best in music, fashion, dance extravaganza and celebration of Indian Film and we can’t wait for IIFA to take over the City of New York and America.  The multi-faceted nature of IIFA also presents a great opportunity through FICCI- IIFA Global Business Forum, with which we aim to create a business networking platform to further trade & policy relations between India and America.”

Varun Dhawan shared saying, “I am absolutely excited to be a part of IIFA Awards in New York this year. I’m looking forward to join everyone and see fans at the amazing MetLife Stadium. This year is truly going to be a grand celebration and I can’t wait to be there!”

Commenting on the occasion, Salman Khan says, “It always feels great to be a part of the IIFA Movement and I look forward to the IIFA Festival in New York.”

Expressing his excitement, Shahid Kapoor says, “IIFA is all about creating memories and experiences. I had a great time last year hosting the show. This time around I will be performing at the IIFA Festival New York. I am hoping to give the audiences a power packed performance in the City That Never Sleeps.”

Speaking about her debut at IIFA, Alia Bhatt shares, “I am very excited to be a part of IIFA 2017, as this is going to be my debut at the IIFA Festival after 5 years in the industry. I am super excited that IIFA is being held in the beautiful city of New York. IIFA is all about togetherness and the celebration of the Indian cinema globally and I eagerly look forward to this celebration”.

Katrina Kaif says, “I’m really excited and looking forward to performing at the IIFA Awards this year. It is such a great platform that not only showcases the celebration of cinema globally, but also it’s a great opportunity for us to reach out to our fans worldwide. I am excited that this year, it is happening in one of my favorite cities – New York!”

Sharing his experience with IIFA, Sushant Singh Rajput says, “I have always been excited for IIFA since my college days, because that’s when my association with IIFA began. From being a back-ground dancer to performing for the audiences as an actor, IIFA has always been very memorable to me. I am very grateful to IIFA for giving me a chance to perform. I doubt I will be performing on my songs, because the films I have done, don’t really have peppy numbers. However I look forward to my performance at the IIFA Festival New York 2017.”

Commenting on her excitement for IIFA, Kriti Sanon says, “IIFA is a great platform where everyone from the industry travels globally and celebrates the glory of Indian Cinema. The IIFA Awards has always been held in the most beautiful destinations and this time it’s being held in New York. I am enthusiastically looking forward to my very first performance at the IIFA Festival and my first visit to the City.”

Lycamobile – Presenting Sponsor, McDonalds - Associate Sponsor, NYC (Mayors office) - Host Destination, NewYorkBannerStands & Print Early – Printing Partner, Pierre Précieuse – Gifting Partner and Arya Dance Academy – Dance Company Partner.

The NEXA IIFA Awards will broadcast on COLORS – the Broadcast Partner, with the Title Sponsor NEXA, Weekend Title Sponsor – EROS NOW, Powered by VIVO, Cause Partner- WOOSH Washing Expert,   Styled by Myntra, Official Airline Partner – AIR INDIA, Thought Leadership Partner – VEDANTA, Brand Partner – Closeup, Carnival and Ease My Trip and Franchise India, Jewelry Partner – Nakshatraworld.com, Outdoor partners – Bright Outdoor Media and JR Creations, Multiplex Partner –PVR

Commenting on the occasion, Sudhanshu Vats, Group CEO - Viacom18, "Historically, Indian cinema has been the biggest ambassador of our culture, and IIFA has been instrumental in a big way to take our cinema to the Indian diaspora. IIFA is the biggest celebration of Bollywood, and it has been a very rewarding partnership between COLORS Viacom18 and Wizcraft to take this entertainment extravaganza a notch higher every year. The increasing appeal of Indian movies across geographies have established the international appeal of the local Indian content. This focus on content driven cinema is a cause that is very dear to our Studio, Viacom18 Motion Pictures. In the coming days we will strive towards making our stories, our cinema find increasing global audiences and spread the essence of Bollywood across cultures."

Sharing on the same, Raj Nayak, COO – Viacom18, said “After months of preparations, we are in New York today to celebrate the world’s biggest Bollywood awards. Three days of celebration that started with ringing the bell at Nasdaq, having a dance & fashion show at Times Square, celebrating 25 years of A R Rahman with IIFA Rocks and finally the IIFA awards, it's just been amazing. 40,000 people will watch the event LIVE at the MetLife stadium in New York and viewers across the globe will get to watch the extravaganza on COLORS."

Speaking of the association, Mr. R. S Kalsi, Executive Director, Marketing & Sales, Maruti Suzuki said“We are delighted to associate with NEXA IIFA Awards 2017 for the third consecutive year. NEXA and IIFA are symbolic of breaking the status-quo and creating experiences which are new and exciting. NEXA is synonymous with offering premium experiences matched with spectacular segment defining products like S-Cross, Baleno, Ignis and Ciaz. NEXA creates moments which consumers experience just like IIFA which builds lifetime experiences and felicitates excellence in Indian cinema at a global stage”

Commenting on the association, Rishika Lulla Singh CEO - Eros Digital said, “We strive to offer the best of Bollywood content to our viewers and it gives us immense pleasure to associate with Wizcraft and come on board as Title Sponsor for IIFA Weekend, one of the most celebrated and recognized Indian film award ceremonies across the globe. Eros Now will stream the awards reaching out to our subscribers across the world to give them the opportunity to witness these grand celebrations before its telecast on any other digital platform. With two leading players from the entertainment space coming together for the awards gala, the teams promise to magnify its scope and amplify our vision to reach out to Indian cinema lovers across the world’.

Delighted at the association, Vivek Zhang, CMO, Vivo India, said, “We are thrilled to have partnered with the most coveted platform representing Indian cinema globally. As a global smartphone brand, we constantly try to connect closely with our target audience in different parts of the country. We believe that the popularity of India International Film Awards (IIFA) is a splendid opportunity for Vivo to strengthen connect with the right audience and create a strong brand recall. Our latest offering in the Indian market is a step ahead in our endeavor to revolutionize the selfie phenomenon.”

Speaking of the association, Mr. Anil Agarwal, Chairman, Vedanta Resources Plc said; “IIFA has been a platform that showcases India’s art & cultural excellence to the world, just as we believe Vedanta champions India’s natural resources globally. I am pleased that IIFA is supporting our flagship CSR programme; Nand Ghar as a social cause which will benefit 8.5 crore children and 2 crore women across India. This is aligned to our Honorable Prime Minister’s social development vision for our country.”

Sharing on the association, Mr. Allirajah Subaskaran Group Chairman and founder, Lycamobile Group of Companies said: “We are delighted to be sponsoring this year’s International Indian Film Academy Festival, an event showcasing the best of Bollywood, with nominations from some of the industry’s biggest stars, including Anushka Sharma, Amitabh Bachchan and Shahid Kapoor. Our sponsorship of the Festival demonstrates Lyca Group’s ongoing commitment to excellence in Indian cinema, an area we are dedicated to supporting as we continue our expansion into film through our entertainment business Lyca Productions”

“I join Mayor de Blasio in extending a warm welcome to IIFA for its annual celebration of Indian Cinema,” said Film and Entertainment Commissioner, Julie Menin. “As both a film production capital and the proud home to so many Indian Americans, New York is the perfect host city for this wonderful celebration.  We also welcome the many Bollywood film lovers, fans and tourists who will visit our city for these prestigious awards.”  

Drawing a close parallel between the two mega brands, Air India’s Commercial Director, Mr. Pankaj Srivastava said that “As has IIFA been growing to be a global phenomenon over the years, so has Air India been expanding its wings internationally, especially in American, European and Australian markets. Both Air India and IIFA are dream merchants and true ambassadors of Indian goodwill abroad.”

Commenting on the occasion, Ananth Narayanan, CEO, Myntra-Jabong says, “The strong bond between Bollywood and fashion needs no foreword! An association between the nations’s leading destination for fashion online and the most awaited screen award ceremony in the country makes for an excellent combination that symbolically connects these brands with consumers. IIFA represents glamour and fashion and we are looking forward to a long-standing relationship with them as their fashion partners.”

Talking about the collaboration with IIFA, Mr. Yogesh Jain, Managing Director and Chairman ‘Woosh Washing Expert’ says, “It gives us immense pleasure to have associated with IIFA. As cause partners, we will be happy to promote Woosh’s ‘Soft Soft Hands’ at the event and empower women, in our own little way. This is our first association with IIFA and we look forward to continuing our journey with it, going forward”.

Commenting on this, Shashwat Sharma, Category Head, Oral Care India, said, “Closeup as a brand celebrates two individuals coming close by shedding all inhibitions that they face. Our signature tune “Paas Aao” has been an iconic jingle building our brand philosophy. We are excited to bring to you a fresh and edgy take of the much-loved melody. What started out as a romantic number has now evolved into a bold and catchy track which resonates with the pulse of today’s youth. We want to inspire the youth to break all barriers and overcome their hesitation. This thought has been brilliantly brought alive by Ahmed Khan and his vision for the song and the charm of Sushant Singh Rajput and Kriti Sanon. We are confident this new exciting avatar of “Paas Aao” will be loved by all.” Tune in to Colors, at 10 am and catch Kriti and Sushant share their ‘PaasAao’ moment with their electrifying performance on stage!

Commenting on the association, Mr. Nishant Pitti, CEO & Co-Founder, EaseMyTrip.com shared, “Joining IIFA 2017 as support partner will bring EaseMyTrip more close to Bollywood as we always welcome our association with entertainment world.”

IIFA inaugurated its festivities by ringing in the Nasdaq stock exchange bell at Times Square, thus marking the globalization of Indian cinema. International Indian Film Academy especially rang the bell to announce its support for the Nand Ghar Project, a unique Public-Private-Partnership (PPP), led by Vedanta Resources, which is listed on the NYSE stock exchange, along with the Government of India to transform Early Childhood Care and Education Centers. Designed in line with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi with a view to eradicating malnutrition, providing education and skill Development, Vedanta has adopted 4,000 villages in India. Taking the benefits of development of healthcare, children's education and skill development for women, Project Nand Ghar is a meeting point of the social initiatives by the government such as Swaach Bharat, Startup India, Skill India, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Digital India campaigns all under one roof. With a strong focus on health, safety and environment and on enhancing the lives of local communities,Vedanta founders have pledged 75% of their wealth for social development.

Fans of Indian Cinema can look forward to a host of events kicking off with the music and fashion welcome party- Myntra presents IIFA Stomp at Times Square on 13th July. Bollywood actor Varun Dhawan will be showcasing his DJ skills at IIFA Stomp alongside DJ Amann Nagpal, Electronica icon B.R.E.E.D, DJ Nasha, as they raise the excitement with their unique music. Another facet to IIFA Stomp is a glamorous Fashion Show right in the heart of the city! Myntra shall present its collection with show-stoppers Bollywood actresses’ Dia Mirza and Taapsee Pannu. Leading ladies Shilpa Shetty & Neha Dhupia shall be show-stoppers for Shane and Falguni Peacock collection presented by NEXA and a Jewelry collection will be presented by Gitanjali by designer Sonaakshi Raaj withHuma Qureshi as the showstopper. In addition, Myntra shall announce the MOGO much logo launch featuring a 10 minute performance by the talented multi-instrumentalist Karsh Kale.

Day 1 of the 18th edition of the IIFA Weekend and Awards also introduces the first-of-its-kind“Shuruaat Gala” Dinner IIFA Societal Innovation Summit, a charity fundraiser organized by IIFA in association with The Global Education and Leadership Foundation (tGELF) at The Pierre in New York. As star studded evening, Shuruaat Gala Dinner at IIFA shall bring together the biggest celebrities from Bollywood and leaders from business, philanthropy, media, education and Arts. 

As part of the IIFA Weekend and Awards in New York, IIFA and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and industry announced the FICCI-IIFA Global Business Forum to be held on July 14th, 2017 at the Asia Society, 725 Park Avenue. An initiative, supported by Consulate General of India- New York, Asia Society and US-India Business Council (USIBC), the Business Forum began in 2005 and has grown into a global platform which has hosted international leaders such as Nelson Mandela, Prince Charles, Prime Minister Tony Blair of UK, President Mahinda Rajapaksa of Sri Lanka and a number of CEOs of Fortune 500 companies. FICCI- IIFA Global Business Forum, the annual one-day event has been a major highlight of the IIFA Weekend And Awards, solidifying the business ties between India and its significant trade and investment partners. This year, the Global Business Forum 2017 will focus on the theme “India and United States: Partners in Progress”, withdiscussions on India- US commercial relations, with panel sessions focusing on key aspects of the relationship:  The future of India-US Economic Partnership, Defense and Security, Manufacturing,Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Media & Entertainment.

Additionally, the iconic MetLife stadium shall transform into an unforgettable musical experience atEROS NOW IIFA Rocks on July 14th with the Multi-talented Bollywood star Diljit Dosanjh kick-starting the performances. A never-seen-before medley and energetic performances from Hariharan, Kailash Kher, Mika Singh, Mohit Chauhan, Jonita Gandhi, Neeti Mohan, Javed Ali, Haricharan Seshadri and Kamaal Khan among others will be seen with the legendary artist A.R. Rahman at IIFA Rocks. Bollywood’s Riteish Deshmukh and Manish Paul will host the sensational global event.

The final and most awaited event of the weekend is the NEXA IIFA Awards Co-presented by Eros Now Powered by VIVO, a spectacular and glamorous night which honors and celebrates excellence and deserving work in Indian cinema will be held at MetLife Stadium on July 15thfeaturing Saif Ali Khan and Karan Johar hosting the star studded night with dazzling performances by Bollywood megastars Salman Khan, Alia Bhatt, Katrina Kaif, Shahid Kapoor, Sushant Singh Rajput and Kriti Sanon, to name a few.

The NEXA IIFA Awards Powered by VIVO to broadcast on COLORS on Sunday, July 16th with the Green Carpet at 6pm followed by the Awards at 7pm.

Lycamobile Presents IIFA Festival New York in Association with McDonalds will air LIVE exclusively onSaturday, July 15, starting at 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT in North America and the Caribbean oncable, satellite and digital Pay Per View via in Demand, Vubiquity, DISH and DIRECTV in the USA, Bell, Rogers, SHAW, SaskTel and Telus in Canada, along with the Flipps App and web sitewww.IIFAAwardsppv.com in both the USA and Canada. The suggested retail price is $39.95. The live telecast is distributed exclusively via Integrated Sports Media.

With the excitement growing across the world, the Official IIFA merchandise is a perfect treat for‘IIFAn’s’ globally. The Official IIFA Merchandise includes an interesting range of T-Shirts, Caps, Key Rings, Hooded Sweatshirts, Tote Bags, Magnet and Ticket Holders among others that are stylized with the Iconic IIFA’s logo. The Merchandise is exclusively available on e-storehttps://www.jsrdirect.com/webstores/iifa and at MetLife Stadium from 14th – 15th July 2017 during the 72 hour IIFA Weekend and Awards.

As fans from all across the world await for the biggest celebration of Indian cinema worldwide, International Indian Film Academy is pleased to announce its diverse range of official IIFA merchandise. New York based Easy Partners, a boutique licensing and merchandising company ties up with IIFA as the official merchandise partner to produce, market and sell the merchandise.

IIFA continues on its journey with strength to grow every year in the world of entertainment and building the outreach as a major event globally to bring positive results and impact. This year is set to be one of the biggest, most extravagant and amazing IIFA Weekends to date. Keep up to date with all the latest news and details on IIFA by logging on to www.iifa.com or checking out the social media handles.

#IIFA2017

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IIFA/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/IIFA

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/iifa/

About IIFA (International Indian Film Academy)

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 and a global platform that gives the Indian film fraternity an opportunity to reach audiences in international territories. The alliances made via the platform of IIFA provide huge benefits and gain to India but an equally important objective of this prestigious brand is to create similar outcomes in its host country.  The aim is to establish a system of mutual benefit to both India as well as the host destinations by boosting tourism, economic development, trade, culture, cross-border investments and film co-productions.

Wizcraft International Entertainment Pvt. Ltd promotes the IIFA Weekend & Awards globally each year and travel to new, exciting and beautiful destinations, taking the film fraternity with it to unite and celebrate the best of Indian film and culture, thereby taking Indian Cinema and India to a wider audience. www.iifa.com.

ABOUT WIZCRAFT INTERNATIONAL ENTERTAINMENT PVT. LTD.

Wizcraft International Entertainment, India’s leading media and Entertainment Company is dedicated to showcasing its expertise on the world stage.  Having conceptualized some of the grandest events globally including the 50 Years of Indian Independence, the 30 Years of Mauritian Independence, the 10 years of the South African Freedom Struggle, the Commonwealth Games Opening and Closing ceremonies in Delhi as well as the Handover ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, & the prestigious International

Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards & Weekend for 15 years in over 12 countries, Wizcraft has contributed towards brand building for India across the world.  It has pioneered and developed India’s biggest entertainment brand IIFA which has taken Indian Cinema and culture to the world. The growth story of the company reflects the evolution of the Indian event management & entertainment industry itself. Driven by its vision “Believe in the power of your dreams” the company is committed to quality and innovation, while setting its sights on greater peaks of achievement.

ABOUT METLIFE STADIUM

MetLife Stadium, home to the New York Jets and New York Football Giants, is the number one stadium in the world. This 82,500 seat stadium, one of the largest in the National Football League, sets the standard for venue excellence with state-of-the-art technology, comfort and amenities. The only active venue to serve as the home stadium for two NFL teams, MetLife Stadium hosts 20 NFL games per season, more than any other Stadium.

MetLife Stadium hosts the World’s Biggest Events, on the World’s Biggest Stage. Major events hosted at the stadium include Super Bowl XLVIII, WrestleMania 29, Copa America Centenario, CONCACAF Gold Cup Quarterfinals, Paul McCartney, U2, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Bon Jovi, Kenny Chesney and Taylor Swift

MetLife Stadium tops the industry charts annually since opening. The Stadium has ranked as the No. 1 Highest Grossing Stadium in the world for the last 5 years (2012 – 2016) by Billboard magazine. In 2011 MetLife Stadium was ranked No. 1 for safety by Security magazine’s “Security 500” in the Arenas/Stadiums/Leagues/Entertainment division.

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