EBolly

Ireland could host IIFA in 2008

FORGET about Hollywood, Ireland is hoping to make a song and dance in the movie world by hosting the next Bollywood Oscars.

Four countries, including Switzerland, Egypt and the US, are currently competing to host the top Indian cinema awards next year.

But film fans are hoping movie bosses will chose the Emerald Isle for the glitzy affair.

Promoters are now finalising a submission which is due mid-September, that they hope will bring the event to Dublin.

It is thought that Ireland’s geographical location may help land the deal.

About four million Indians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis and Sri Lankans now live in Britain and PK Sharma, the British representative of Wizcraft, the events management company that runs the awards, said the organisers were keen to capitalise on what the country can offer.

“We were looking at scheduling the event at the end of May in Ireland because it’s a bank holiday in Britain and we would easily get 5,000 to 6,000 flying-over from Britain.

“We also take all the producers and directors who come over on a familiarisation tour to show them the country.

“Ireland could easily be used as a film location bring ing in millions of euro.

“What Ireland has to offer, that a lot of places don’t, is the heritage that has been retained in buildings and in scenery.

Business development consultant Bernice Paolozzi, who is co-ordinating the bid, said the three-day extravaganza would be one of the highlights of the social calendar.

The Bollywood Oscars, which is bigger than its Hollywood counterpart, usually attracts the biggest stars in the industry and about 2,000 guests would be expected to travel from India for the televised event.

The only obstacle left to the staging of the event in Ireland is that, with the Point Theatre under renovation, no alternative indoor venue has yet been found.

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