MUMBAI: The President of the Republic of Korea, Lee Myung-Bak invited the International Indian Film Academy to host the IIFA Weekend and Awards in South Korea, this year.  The IIFA Weekend caps a four-day celebration of Indian Cinema, including a Film Festival, various film briefings, a world-wide film premiere, a trade and business Forum, an IIFA Foundation event and escalate into the night of nights, the IDEA IIFA Awards. The other countries in close bidding to host IIFA 2010 are Sri lanka, Australia, South Africa and Abu Dhabi.

The invitation came yesterday before a delegation from Korea and a delegation from IIFA at the India-Korea night on Sunday in Delhi. Directors at Wizcraft, Andre Timmins and Sabbas Joseph attended the India Korea Night at the Maurya Sheraton on the 25th January where Korea was announced as the front-runner in the bid to host IIFA 2010. The visiting South Korean President was in the country on the request of President Pratibha Patil, as the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations in the capital.

Sabbas Joseph thanked the Korean Government for their keen interest and presented an IIFA Plaque to H.E. Yu,Inchon-Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism along with Na,Kyung Won-Member of the National Assembly Republic Of Korea.  Mr.Chang -Hyun Lee Director, Presidential Council On Nation Branding shared some encouraging words to support the country’s bid to host the International Indian Film Academy.

Sabbas Joseph, Director, IIFA said, “We are in the process of finalizing the destination for IIFA 2010. We have received numerous bids to host the 11th edition of the Weekend and Awards, given the global interest. It is our pleasure that the president of Korea has extended invitation to host IIFA 2010 in their country, Korea definitely is one of the countries we are looking at as IIFA 2010 destination and we shall confirm the country of host for IIFA 2010 very soon."