South Africa India Film and Television Awards (SAIFTA)

ENTERTAINMENT

Karan Johar to host SAIFTA 2013, with the gorgeous Dia Mirza
On 6^th September in Durban, South Africa

 

Bollywood icon Madhuri Dixit and the dazzling diva
Priyanka Chopra to scorch the stage at SAIFTA

Over 150 film and TV personalities to attend the event

 

With just twenty one days from the unveiling of the first South Africa India Film and Television Awards (SAIFTA) by Celebrity Locker and the Department of Economic Development and Tourism KZN that is slated to be held on 6^th September in Durban, South Africa. The excitement is overwhelming, the announcements are rolling in and the red carpet is getting ready to be laid out. A never before seen annual cross- cultural award night will be held at The Durban ICC, Durban. And, an enthused crowd of 7,000 fans and celebrities is expected to attend this grand extravaganza!

 

Along with the gorgeous Dia Mirza, celebrated filmmaker Karan Johar will be hosting SAIFTA 2013. Together, the two will bring to the stage their brand of charisma, wit, humour and glamour adding to the glitz quotient of the event. The graceful Madhuri Dixit and the stunning Priyanka Chopra will be performing at the award ceremony, and joining them on stage will be B-Town heartthrobs Ranveer Singh and Siddharth Malhotra and tele-stars Manish Paul, Mona Singh, Apurva Agnihotri and Shilpa Agnihotri among many others includes stars from South Africa. Over 150 prominent film and TV personalities will be gracing the event with their presence; one of them would be the stunning Jaqueline Fernandes. These celebrities will get a chance to rub shoulders, interact and familiarise themselves with 30 top film and TV personalities of South Africa.

This first-of-its-kind award ceremony is the brainchild of Kedhar Gawde, a renowned international fashion consultant, and is aimed at rewarding excellent performers of the Indian and South African entertainment industry. The project is focused at strengthening the bond between India and South Africa by enhancing the exchange of cultural elements in entertainment, talent and technical expertise between the two countries. Gawde, who is also the director of Celebrity Locker, a Mumbai-based events agency has joined hands with the Department of Economic Development and Tourism KwaZulu-Natal, to make this prestigious association which binds the two countries possible. South Africa and India is a melting pot of cultures and SAIFTA is the platform that allows for this culture curry. SAIFTA will double as a think tank where people who can make a difference, get together to push the cause to influence policy makers. A huge focus of the award ceremony is to put the spotlight on various social issues and channel funding to them through charities and fundraising initiatives.

According to Kedhar Gawde, organizer and Official Spokesperson of SAIFTA and Director of Celebrity Locker, “We at SAIFTA, which celebrates the harmonious association between South Africa and Bollywood, are proud to formally introduce our cross-cultural award ceremony to the people of

India. I am looking forward to the rest of the events where top South African and Indian film and television talent will be deservingly recognised and felicitated.”

The Indian panel of judges includes revered actors and filmmakers from the Bollywood fraternity including Boman Irani, Farah Khan, Mukesh Bhatt, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra and Waheeda Rehman. The South African jury includes stalwarts and renowned personalities from the fields of arts and culture such as Caroline Smart, Leleti Khumalo, Linda Bukhosini, Peter Rorvick, Saira Essa and Welcome Msomi.

This reputed and high calibre panel of judges will vet out the nominations for the film and TV awards for India and South Africa, and short-list the nominees that will be up for voting for the public. SAIFTA 2013 will recognise and award talent across TV shows, films, actors and directors in the entertainment industries of both countries.

But, of course such a glorious and glamorous event is not possible without a great team. SAIFTA 2013 has over 30 people in India and South Africa working on it, to create the best produced event that it is. Impeccable design, execution and presentation are at the forefront of this mega event and SAIFTA 2013 has been possible only because of the hard-working and perseverant band of talented people behind it – creative show director Kedhar Gawde, creative director Ritika Bajaj, event and brand consultants

 

Work That Works, choreographer for 100 dancers for India and Durban Geeta Kapoor, costumes by Manish Malhotra, set design by Magic Oxide, script

writer Sabina Gulati, collateral design Two Design Solutions, TV crew by Masens Group and Aarya 24kt pure 24KT Gold products and Bateel, Gifting partners.

Tickets for SAIFTA 2013 are available on http://online.computicket.com/web/

You can also book corporate packages and VIP Tables.

About SAIFTA  
South Africa India Film and Television Awards (SAIFTA) is the first of its kind awards ceremony bringing Bollywood to Durban to felicitate talent from both countries in the sphere of cinema and television. SAIFTA aims to reach out to audiences and enhance cross cultural integration and provide an exciting platform between India and South Africa coming together to share technical ideas, talent, promote film locations and boost tourism.