As you may already have heard, Yorkshire has beaten the likes of New York and Sydney to host the prestigious International Indian Film Festival awards (IIFA) in June this year and, surprisingly but rightly so, Bradford's getting quite a large piece of the Bollywood action! While the main IIFA awards ceremony hits Sheffield on June 9th, a major four day 'fringe festival' is also running at the same time in various places across Yorkshire - and that's where Bradford comes in as we enjoy the sights, smells and tastes of South Asia! Together with a 'Bollywood Bazaar' there'll be a Bollywood Film Festival and an amazing dance spectacular, 'Bollywood Steps', which is of course inspired by the movies! As a whole, it's expected that all this IIFA-related activitiy will increase tourism to Bradford and Yorkshire by more than £9.5m and there could be 28,000 international visitors. I think a 'wow' is called for!  | | Amitabh Bachchan at the event |
I was honoured to attend the 'curtain raiser' for the awards just a few days ago, where a number of Yorkshire's most important people spoke. Although I was trying to be very professional listening to their speeches, I have to admit I was somewhat star-struck when none other than huge Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan walked into the room. It's not every day that this kind of thing happens in West Yorkshire! Trying not to get too carried away with the whole event I did manage to listen intently to what was being said to find out what would be happening right here on our doorstep during the fringe festival. As well as Amitabh Bachchan, other speakers included such luminaries as Councillor Mohammed Iqbal (the Lord Mayor of Leeds), Sir Thomas Ingilby (Deputy Chairman of the Yorkshire Tourist Board), Linda Pollard (the Deputy Chairman of regeneration agency Yorkshire Forward) and Garry Topp of Yorkshire Culture. In her speech, Yorkshire Forward's Linda Pollard said that IIFA and Yorkshire are a perfect match. Not only that but she promised: "We're working very hard to make sure that IIFA 2007 will be the best ever!" I'll say. It's in Yorkshire! Of course it'll be the best! Linda went on to give Amitabh Bachchan a white rose and said to him: "We want you to be a part of our Yorkshire culture". You know, I think he already is. I know that he certainly is in West Yorkshire's Asian communities. Responding to this in his speech, Amitabh said he believed that IIFA was building bridges and bringing people together: "I'm very happy that IIFA has chosen Yorkshire and I am very happy with the love and affection shown to all of us by the people of Yorkshire. I assure you it will be reciprocated!" | "Other than being slightly concerned about Bradford getting into shape before the Festival, I'm also really excited!" | | Sarah Allison |
One of the great events I heard would be taking place in Bradford will be in connection with the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA). They're hosting an 'In The Regions' event at the National Media Museum on June 8th, focusing on the work of a truly legendary Indian filmmaker, Satyajit Ray. If you're a serious film lover, you'll know that the last time the work of Indian filmmakers was truly relevant to what we now know as World Cinema was in the late 1950s, when Satyajit Ray's 'Apu' trilogy made a really big impact. With this in mind Kevin Price, BAFTA's Chief Operating Officer, said during his speech: "Satyajit was an extraordinary filmmaker who has had a profound influence on filmmakers and audiences throughout the world and BAFTA in the Regions is delighted to be partnering with IIFA on such an inspirational workshop." Of course all this is just a couple of months away now, and Sir Thomas Ingilby from the Yorkshire Tourist Board was equally enthusiastic in his speech about this upcoming Bollywood bonanza. Sir Thomas enthused: "We were involved in bringing Royal Ascot to Yorkshire two years ago. We thought that was big but this makes it look like a village darts league final!" Now, I'll tell you that DID make me chuckle, but then it did make me worry a little too. If you've read any of my articles on bbc.co.uk/westyorkshire before then you'll know that I love Bradford. However, I'll admit that it isn't known for being the fastest developing city. Take the development at Forster Square, for example. "What development?" I hear you cry, and that's exactly my point. I really hate to be negative but Bradford will seriously need to get its act together before June otherwise it could be very embarrassing. IIFA is a brilliant opportunity to boost tourism and to get Bradford - along with the rest of Yorkshire - firmly on the map. The 'strapline' for IIFA in Yorkshire is 'Yorkshire: Love at First Sight'. There'll be loads of visitors and we have loads to offer, but do visitors really want to see a great big hole in the landscape like we see in Forster Square? And the graffiti clad yellow walls of Bradford Interchange exit have to be sorted pronto! No one will be falling in love with that...  | | Bradford's 'hole': Poor publicity? |
Enough of the pessimism now, though. As many attending this curtain-raising IIFA event agreed, Bradford's multiculturalism is part of the reason Yorkshire won this bid - and I sincerely believe that. There aren't many other cities where so many communities work so well together and where so many organisations work so hard at community cohesion. I think my glass is half full again! As Sir Thomas also said: "This is the first chapter of an enduring affair which will last for many years and bring lasting fulfilment to Bollywood and Yorkshire." Hear, hear! I have to say that other than being slightly concerned about Bradford getting into shape before the Festival, I'm also really excited. If the curtain raiser is anything to go by it should be a colourful, exciting and glamorous event which will hopefully really build bridges and bring communities together. I hope that the awards will help everyone in Yorkshire, including myself, understand Asian culture and the Indian film Industry a little better and I hope that we will get to see how much fun an event like this can be. I'll be checking out all the IIFA-related events in Bradford but, for now, I reckon I all I need to do is get practising my moves for 'Bollywood steps'! | 
