B.C. Premier Christy Clark announces first-ever Times of India Film Award

VANCOUVER DESI

Bollywood actress Chitrangada Singh poses at the announcement of the Times of India Film Awards – which will be held in April – in Vancouver, B.C., Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2013. Nick Procaylo/PNG

Vancouver will make history as it welcomes the first ever Times of India Film Awards at the Convention Centre this April, Premier Christy Clark announced Tuesday morning.

The four-day event will roll out April 3 with concerts and film screenings and close with a red carpet and awards ceremony April 6 with performances from A-listers like Priyanka Chopra, Abhishek Bachchan, Akshay Kumar and many more.

Clark announced the province will put forward more than $10 million for the event, with $9.5 million towards production costs and $1.5 million for promotional and community activities, including the B.C.-India forum.

“Hosting the Times of India Film Awards is one piece of our government’s market outreach efforts in India, a once-in-a-generation economic opportunity for British Columbia, and one that our government is not prepared to let pass us by,” Clark said in a release.

The event is expected to boost economic opportunities, create jobs and attract tourists from across Canada as well as India.

“The Times of India Film Awards is a catalyst for building awareness of B.C. to Indian businesses, deepening relationships and kick-starting enhanced trade activities,” said Pat Bell, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training. “We now need to focus on telling average Indian businesses and travellers what B.C. has to offer.”

The Times of India Film Awards (TOIFA) is expected to be a global property held annually at international locations. The awards celebrate outstanding movies and personalities in the Hindi film industry through a public voting system.

Film director and producer Karan Johar was “delighted” to be at Tuesday’s announcement.

“This is an exceptional concept and a great opportunity for us to connect with all our international fans,” she said. “The Hindi Film Industry is no longer confined to the borders of the subcontinent and is rapidly expanding its reach.”

TOIFA 2013 will kick off at the Pacific Colliseum April 4 with performances by leading musicians within the Hindi film industry.

On April 5, film screenings will open to the public in multiplexes across B.C.

Tickets for the grand award ceremony at B.C. Place on April 6 will go on sale at Ticketmaster on Feb. 10.

Times of India Film Awards

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Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar is expected in Vancouver in April 2013 for the inaugural Times of India Film Awards. STR/AFP/Getty Images

Tags: Abhishek Bachan, B.C., Bollywood, Christy Clark, Priyanka Chopra, Times of India Film Awards, Vancouver