Vancouver to host Times of India Film Awards

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VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – Vancouver will host the inaugural Times of India Film Awards.

The awards will take place in April.

This is not the highly-anticipated Indian Oscars that the province had put a bid on but Premier Christy Clark says this is the best possible outcome. “Because it’s not just the film awards, it’s a program of trade to try and do in India what we have done in China which is introduce our province to the country and create jobs at home as a result of the increased trade.”

The province will spend $11 million on the event, which it expects to bring back $13 million to $18 million to BC in direct spending through tourism. Clark says it’s the beginning of a new collaboration with India.

“Building what we hope will be a long, durable and very profitable trade relationship for BC, there’s film that’s part of it, tourism is a very big part of it and also trade.”

Many have criticized saying this is simply an election ploy, but Clark disagrees. “I’ve been talking about this since November, 2011 when I went to India.”

She says it will be seen by millions of people in one of the world’s fastest-growing economies. She says it’s a huge economic opportunity for BC to reach new markets.

Big-name director Karan Johar was at today’s announcement; he says it will be massive event.

BC NDP leader Adrian Dix says the money will spent on this at a time when government doesn’t have money for other things.

“So it’s a massive business subsidy for a one time project,” says Dix.

“People will have to judge, not whether the idea of promoting Bollywood here is a good idea, of course that is, but whether spending 11 million dollars in taxpayer money for a one time event,” adds Dix.”

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