MUMBAI: The International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Voting Weekend for the IIFA Awards in Toronto opened on Friday to the members of the Indian Film fraternity. Kareena Kapoor cast the first vote.

The others who cast their votes were Arjun Rampal, Karan Johar, Sonu Sood, Riteish Deshmukh, Yash Chopra, Ramesh Sippy, J.P. Dutta, Manmohan Shetty and other members of the film fraternity and the IIFA Advisory Board.

Kapoor said, "It is a great privilege that has been bestowed upon me to cast the first vote and inaugurate the 12th IIFA Voting Weekend. IIFA has set a high standard with its voting procedure and hence established a benchmark for excellence and credibility. This being the IIFA’s premiere in North America, I am eagerly looking forward to the IIFA Weekend in Toronto."

2011 marks the twelfth year of the IIFA celebrations. IIFA will make its North American debut in Ontario, Canada this year wherein the three-day long IIFA Weekend and Awards is all set to take place from the 23 to 25 June.

IIFA Advisory Board member Ramesh Sippy said, "In its 12th year, IIFA has continued its focus of promoting the very best of Indian cinema globally and the IIFA Voting Weekend is a key component of making IIFA, the success it is."

"2010 has been a great year for the Indian movie business. The IIFA Voting Weekend is a wonderful opportunity to honour colleagues by voting for the best of the best. With the Videocon IIFA Weekend and the Micromax IIFA Awards 2011 in Toronto, Canada, we will continue to bring the on-screen magic to the Indian diaspora with the grandest celebration of Indian cinema," said Wizcraft International Entertainment director Wiz Sabbas Joseph.