The International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Voting Weekend for the IIFA Awards in Toronto, opened yesterday to the members of the Indian Film fraternity.

The 4th, 5th and 6th of March marks the 12th year of IIFA’s Voting Weekend, where the reigning superstar of the big screen, Kareena Kapoor cast her first vote, followed by Arjun Rampal, Karan Johar, Sonu Sood, Riteish Deshmukh, Yash Chopra, Ramesh Sippy, J.P. Dutta, Manmohan Shetty and other members of the film fraternity and the IIFA Advisory Board.

Akin to past IIFA Voting Weekends, many prominent members from the fraternity would participate this year.

Host of stars and industry members including Kareena Kapoor, Arjun Rampal, Yash Chopra, Riteish Deshmukh, Karan Johar, Sonu Sood and Ramesh Sippy, among others cast their vote.

Each year over 1000 industry stalwarts, actors, directors, producers, technicians and composers among others cast their votes, which decide the nominations for the awards. Each year, the IIFA management invites the Academy members and the Film Industry to cast their votes and shortlist nominations in the category of the Popular Awards. The Voting Weekend also derives the Technical Award winners.

Having cast the first vote, previous IIFA awardee Kareena Kapoor shared, “It is a great privilege that has been bestowed upon me to cast the first vote and inaugurate the 12th IIFA Voting Weekend. IIFA has set a high standard with its voting procedure and hence established a benchmark for excellence and credibility. This being the IIFA’s premiere in North America, I am eagerly looking forward to the IIFA Weekend in Toronto.”

2011 marks the twelfth year of the IIFA celebrations. The International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) will make its North American debut in Ontario, Canada this year wherein the three-day long IIFA Weekend and Awards is all set to take place from the 23rd to 25th of June.

Ramesh Sippy, IIFA Advisory Board member said, “In its 12th year, IIFA has continued its focus of promoting the very best of Indian cinema globally and the IIFA Voting Weekend is a key component of making IIFA, the success it is.”

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