Toronto to host International India Film Academy Awards

Toronto will be the setting of the 2011 International Indian Film Academy Awards; the Ontario metropolis will be the first North American city to host the event. The annual Indian Academy Awards ceremony is the culmination of a four-day celebration of Indian filmmaking. The 2011 edition will take place between June 16-19.

The first International India Film Academy Awards ceremony was held at the Millennium Dome in London in 2000, which was followed by festivities in cities as diverse as Amsterdam, Dubai, Singapore, and Johannesburg. The awards ceremony is reportedly watched by 350 million people worldwide and attracts tens of thousands of tourists to the hosting city.

Earlier this year, Macao was the setting of the awards ceremony. The top IIFA Award winner was Ashutosh Gowariker’s period romance Jodhaa Akbar (photo), starring Bollywood icons Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai in a tale of Muslim-Hindu love set in 16th-century India. Jodhaa Akbar took home 11 trophies including best picture, best director, best actor, and best music (Slumdog Millionaire’s A. R. Rahman).

Big B to get Lifetime Achievement Award at Dubai Film Fest

Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan will be honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award at this year's Dubai International Film Festival next week.
The 67-year-old actor will be felicitated at the opening night of the festival on December 9 for his outstanding contribution to cinema.Ranbir Kapoor starrer 'Rocket Singh-Salesman of the Year' will also have its world premier at the festival.