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IIFA 2016 Goes To Madrid. Whose Coming Along?

The 17th Edition of IIFA is off to Europe.  If you were ever in love with Farhan Akhtar’s movie Zindagi Milegi Na Dobara, I bet you will be super excited to hear the next piece of the news. This time IIFA 2016 is all set to create a filmy mayhem in Madrid, Spain. If you thought Madrid was only about FIFA and fans, I predict soon its gonna be about our FILMS too. I am already dreaming of exploring one of the most beautiful cities of Spain.  Are you with me?

 

 

On 28th April, an official announcement was made at a press conference at ITC Maurya, New Delhi. I was part of the media and there I learnt all that would take place at the 17th edition of the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards. Anil Kapoor and Farhan Akhtar represented the film fraternity and graced the occasion along with the representatives of all the brand sponsors. Last year also I had attended the press conference and some of the things that remain unchanged are as below –

 

 

  • Videocon d2h is still going with a  successful association of five years now
  • The event will be telecast on India’s leading Hindi entertainment channel Colors
  • Hero Cycles is coming together with IIFA once again to associate with this mega event as cause partners for their campaign ‘Cycling Heroes’ as they would take this opportunity to spread the message of taking up cycling for a healthy lifestyle.
  • Maruti Suzuki is the Title Sponsor.

 

 

IIFA 2016 in MADRID, IIFA, Spain, Madrid
IIFA 2016 in MADRID

 

 

INDIA and SPAIN

 

Relations between India and Spain have been friendly ever since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1956 and this 60 years of friendship definitely calls for a unique celebration. What better way than doing it in one of the most glamorous, loved and desi way. Thus, Spain happens to be just the right place for IIFA this year. In my believe, the 4 day celebrations (23rd–26th of June) which will see multiple festivities across Cinema, Fashion, Dance And Music will definitely bring our people and culture closer.

 

 

In the words of Wiz Andre Timmins, Director – Wizcraft International Entertainment Pvt. Ltd,  ‘The platform of IIFA will help enhance the celebrations with a dynamic and diverse exchange of art, film, culture, music, fashion and business culminating into a gift of opportunity to bring both countries even closer together’.

 

 

IIFA, press conference
At the IIFA press conference- Charge d’ Affaires Dr. Magdalena Cruz Yabar, Embassy of Spain

 

 

Mr. Luis Cueto, Coordinador General de la Alcaldía de Madrid  said at the press conference, “It is a privilege for Madrid to host the 2016 IIFA Weekend & Awards. It is a unique opportunity that brings together the power of a spectacular show, the strength of an innovative touristic investment and the greatness of a cultural partnership. Madrid can’t imagine a better project for the city this year”.

 

 

Magical Spell of Bollywood In Madrid

 

The other countries that were looking forward to hosting IIFA this year were America, Macau and Abu Dhabi but at last Spain got lucky.

 

 

IIFA, Madrid, Friends of IIFA, Farhan Akhtar, Anil Kapoor
Friends of IIFA – Farhan Akhtar and Anil Kapoor

 

 

Friends of IIFAAnil Kapoor, Farhan Akhtar were present at the press conference in Delhi. The picture above shows them lifting Hero cycles, the cycle brand which is the cause partner to the IIFA Awards. The two men looked absolutely fit and handsome. In the presence of some of the most celebrated stars, the below four events will be the highlight of the award show.

 
FICCI – IIFA Global Business Forum

IIFA Stomp in collaboration with MULAFEST

Urban Trends Festival

IIFA Rocks along with the glamorous awards night- NEXA IIFA Awards  2016.

 

 

IIFA 2016 will witness power-packed performances by Bollywood superstars Salman Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Priyanka Chopra, Deepika Padukone and Sonakshi Sinha, among others. The awards ceremony which will be held in IFEMA convention center.

 

 

Wizcraft, IIFA, Madrid, Spain
Anil Kapoor and Farhan Akhtar with Andre Timmins, Director – Wizcraft International Entertainment Pvt. Ltd      (Picture courtesy: Abhinav Singh)

 

 

I am excited about Madrid.  Here, I tell you why….

 
I have been to Europe twice but never been to Spain before. Everyone who has been there has told me ‘Its beautiful, its dreamy, its different. Go for it!’ The video that was presented at the press conference made everyone fall in love with Spain there and then only.. 

 

Ever since I was part of it, I have been curiously reading around Madrid and can’t wait to be there. Madrid is not just the capital but also the largest city in Spain. Located on the river Manzanares, the city gets its name from Arabic “magerit” which means ‘place of many streams.’

 

I am a travel blogger and I wish to cover this event to bring back beautiful travel stories from Spain. You may wonder how does it connect with IIFA. Well its very simple. Films are directly or indirectly beneficial for tourism. While a lot of Indians will be traveling to Madrid for IIFA. A cultural extravaganza of this kinds will make the locals of Spain curious around India and will definitely help to boost tourism.

 

In addition to it, I make a great Bollywood fan and films have always made me excited around beautiful places. Had it not been Yash Chopra, Indians would have never been so fond of Zurich. Trust me, I went all they way to Mt. Titlis to live my Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge moment.

 

Two richly diverse countries and cultures will intermingle, celebrate and come closer. What more do we want? On my level, I want to see the street life, visit a few attractions, be part of the Mulafest, explore the markets, relish the local food and see the excitement towards our celebrated actors at the Awards show.

 

I have heard Madrid locals like to party hard, especially on weekends. They are fond of lots of music and noise.

 

IIFA extravaganza will bring together the best of Spanish and Indian culture in the IIFA Stomp in collaboration with MULAFEST. I am super excited about it because we Indians hardly know much about Spain and the same goes for the locals of Spain too.

 

Urban Trends Festival will see artists from the international scene- Indian DJs and musicians like Raghu Dixit Project, B.R.E.E.D, Midival Punditz featuring Karsh Kale and friends, and Nucleya will set the stage on fire at MULAFEST. Music connects people from all over the world.

 

 

IIFA, Press conference
When Travel and Lifestyle bloggers posed at IIFA Press Conference in Delhi  (picture courtesy: Abhinav Singh)

 

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