Mumbai: The ninth IIFA awards will be held in Bangkok this year. As it has traveled to over three countries and nine locations, IIFA has left a lasting impact on its host country and its vision of celebrating Indian Cinema is sure to facilitate continued promotion of Thailand as an investment opportunity and film-making destination.

This will not only attract tourists but lure investors and those involved in cinema. IIFA Bangkok 2008, to be held between 6-8 June stands committed to focusing the world’s attention on Thailand as Bangkok witnesses the grandest celebration of Indian Cinema.

"We are proud to play host to such to an esteemed event and welcome the IIFA delegates to our Amazing City. We appreciate the exposure that the IIFA Weekend will bring, showcasing our country’s cultural heritage that runs parallel with our contemporary cities," said Thailand’s minister of sports and tourism H.E, Khun Weerasak Kowsurat.

IIFA Weekend Bangkok 2008 will host the FICCI-IIFA Global Business Forum, that provides the industry an opportunity to deliberate on a diverse range of business, bilateral economic and political issues. The IIFA Fashion Extravaganza, which will also be a part of the IIFA Weekend 2008, will reflect the trends and styles that rule the Indian Film Industry. The IIFA Weekend will see its culmination with the coveted IDEA IIFA Awards 2008 to be held at Siam Niramit, Bangkok.

IIFA World Premiere, another major highlight at the IIFA Weekend, gives the world a glimpse into the next big thing in Indian Cinema, This year, the IIFA World Premiere at Major Cineplex, Bangkok, will showcase the much awaited Sarkar Raj, starring Indian Film icons Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and directed by one of the most sought after Indian Director’s Ram Gopal Varma. Sarkar Raj is a sequel to the critically acclaimed film Sarkar and is sure to give global audiences a taste of true Indian Cinema.

IIFA brand ambassador Amitabh Bachchan said, "IIFA entering its ninth year is a testament to its endurance and its importance in the industry. It gives me immense pleasure to be associated with a credible platform like IIFA which promotes Indian cinema globally. I am delighted that my forthcoming film, Sarkar Raj, is being premiered at the prestigious IIFA World Premier 2008, Bangkok and am eagerly looking forward to this splendid event."

Reaching out to over 600 million people makes the IDEA IIFA Awards the one of the most-watched event in the world. Speaking on Idea’s association with IIFA, Idea Cellular chief marketing officer Pradeep Shrivastava said, "IDEA IIFA Awards offers us the best platform to demonstrate the true essence of mobile and entertainment convergence. With IDEA IIFA, we provide an unmatched value to our customers by providing them the three aspects of entertainment that engage them through the all powerful mobile phone. With IDEA IIFA Awards, our privileged customers will have access to specially created merchandise, contests, video and MMS downloads and several other value added services. Only Idea can take you there."

Star India Pvt CEO Uday Shankar said, "The IIFA Weekend can only get bigger and better. In its ninth year, IIFA celebrates Indian Cinema on a global platform. We bring to millions of viewers across India, US, UK and South East Asia a truly memorable celebration of Indian Cinema. It is the most prestigious of international events and attended by the who’s who of the Indian and foreign film fraternity and acclaimed national and International celebrities."

The FICCI-IIFA Global Business Forum, a part of the IIFA Weekend 2008, Bangkok celebrations, is a vibrant platform which, over the years, has grown in stature, depth and of course numbers, The FICCI IIFA Global Business Forum 2008 in Bangkok aims to bring together key industry verticals like Infrastructure, Real Estate, Drugs, Pharmaceuticals, Films, Automotive, Engineering, Gems & Jewelry amongst others and will definitely be a place of big ideas, international business and networking.

Wizcraft International Entertainment director Wiz Sabbas Joseph said, "It is heartening to see the growth that IIFA has witnessed in the past 8 years and the lasting impact it has left on the hearts and minds of people across the globe. Thailand’s modern outlook backed by its strong cultural legacy makes it an ideal choice for IIFA. We stand committed to our objective of building a bond with our host countries that further translates into business opportunities. That would be the legacy that IIFA would truly be proud of."

The International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) is a movement pioneered by Wizcraft International and brings together the worlds of Indian and International Cinema and business on one common global platform. It strives to build bridges through cinema to create ‘One People, One World’.

Key dignitaries who addressed the media on the occasion were H.E, Ms. Latha Reddy Ambassador of India, Khun Danny McCafferty, General Manager, Dusit Thani, Hospitality Partner, Mr. Ajay Bijli, CMD, PVR Cinemas and Mr. Ram Gopal Varma, Director – Sarkar Raj.

Other dignitries present were Khun Panin, Siam Niramit, Diamrusa’s Khun Salil Shah, Indorama’s Khun Lohia, Awards Venue Partner, and Wizcraft Directors – Mr. Andre Timmis and Mr. Viraf Sarkari.