Salman Khan’s Chillar Party to open the IIFA Film Festival in Toronto

Venerable Indian actor Salman Khan’s first film as a producer, Chillar Party, will open the IIFA Film Festival in Toronto, the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) announced in Mumbai today.

The IIFA Film Festival is an integral part of the 12th Videocon d2h IIFA Weekend and the Floriana IIFA Awards, which will bring the magic and glamour of Asia’s most venerable cinematic festivities to North America for the very first time. The IIFA Celebrations in Canada are presented by CIBC and hosted by the Government of Ontario.

Chillar Party is a light-hearted, but touching comedy that revolves around the lives of seven children each hailing from the various strata’s of society, typical of suburban Mumbai. The movie is a simple and heart-warming peek into the journey of a group of kids who defeat the odds and prove their loyalty to a friend. Chillar Party is Khan’s first co-production. The film is co-produced by Ronnie Screwvalla and SKBH (Salman Khan Being Human) Productions.

Salman Khan was present at the announcement along with first-time directors, Vikas Bahl and Nitesh Tiwari and UTV CEO, Siddharth Roy Kapoor.

“Chillar Party is very close to my heart, the concept appealed to me, and the children’s performances were endearing,” said Khan. “This is the first film under SKBH Productions and we felt there was no better place to screen the movie than at the IIFA Film Festival. For me, IIFA is home-grounds and it can’t get bigger than IIFA in Toronto.”

The IIFA Film Festival is three days of extraordinary Indo-Canadian motion pictures, which will take place at theatres across the Greater Toronto Area beginning June 24, 2011. The IIFA Film Festival began in 2005 to give international audiences in the host country, a flavor of Indian cinema, showcasing some of the genre’s biggest blockbusters and most highly acclaimed offerings.

This year, the IIFA Film Festival will make this extraordinary mix of new and classic films accessible to the large Punjabi population in the cities of Toronto, Markham, Brampton and Mississauga, where the screenings will take place. The opening and closing films of the festival will include special screenings and Q&A attended by the cast and crew.

This year, the Government of Ontario and Premier Dalton McGuinty have appointed Big Brothers Big Sisters as the designated charity for the CIBC presents IIFA Celebrations in Toronto. Big Brothers Big Sisters is a mentoring organization for children and youth that is committed to providing caring adult relationships for children to promote their healthy development and enhance their self esteem. As figures and role models that children and youth would aspire to, IIFA will be working with popular Indian film celebrities to be "As presenting sponsor of the IIFA Celebrations, including this year’s film festival, CIBC is proud to give Canadians a chance to experience the best in South Asian cinema," said Raza Hasan, CIBC Senior Vice President. "The IIFA 2011 program will not only shine a spotlight on the very best of the Indian film industry from around the world, but, as importantly, it will showcase the diversity, pride and passion of Canada’s South Asian communities, and Canadians of all backgrounds.”

"Cineplex is pleased to host the North American premiere of the International Indian Film Academy Film Festival at our theatres” said Ellis Jacob, President and CEO, Cineplex Entertainment. “For many years our guests have enjoyed South Asian movies in a number of our theatres across the country. We are delighted to be part of this world renowned Festival
which has thousands of fans in Canada and millions around the world." 

“IIFA has always used the platform of cinema to build bridges with communities and nations and this year’s IIFA Film Festival will be a wonderful means of enabling audiences in Toronto to experience the colorful exuberance of Indian Cinema,” said Sabbas Joseph, Director-Wizcraft International Entertainment. “We are pleased to open the festival with the much-anticipated Chillar Party.”