Seoul to host major Indian film festival this year

By Lee Chi-dong
NEW DELHI, Jan. 25 (Yonhap) -- South Korea has been chosen to host one of India's
largest film festivals this year, a South Korean presidential body said Monday
during President Lee Myung-bak's state visit here.

Andre Timmins, a member of the organizing committee for the International Indian
Film Academy (IIFA) Awards, attended the Korea Night Event held here on Sunday
and said Seoul was selected to host the annual IIFA Awards in June in 2010,
according to the Presidential Council on Nation Branding.
The organization, led by former Korea University president Euh Yoon-dae, is
spearheading South Korea's efforts to enhance its international image.
"The IIFA Awards is the Indian movie industry's largest festival, tantamount to
the U.S. Academy Awards," the council said. It is expected to draw hundreds of
India's leading actors, actresses and film makers.
India has an advanced film industry based in Mumbai, widely called "Bollywood," a
mix of Hollywood and Bombay, Mumbai's previous name.
The Canadian city of Toronto is scheduled to host the IIFA Awards in June 2011.
The film festival has previously been held in Britain, South Africa, Malaysia,
Singapore, the Netherlands, the United Arab Emirates, Thailand and China.
lcd@yna.co.kr
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