The International Indian Film Academy Awards were inaugurated in 2000. The first ceremony was held in June 2000 at the Millenium Dome, an exhibition space located on the Greenwich Peninsula in London, and co-hosted by Yukta Mookhey and Anupam Kher. The event was attended by Ashok Amritraj, Talvin Singh, Susannah York, Miranda Richardson, Finley Quaye, Kylie Minogue, Thora Birch, Angelina Jolie, Jackie Chan, and other notable actors, filmmakers, producers, and musicians.
Since the inception of the IIFA Awards, each ceremony has been held at a different location around the world, which is meant to symbolize the international success of Bollywood. Over the years, ceremonies have taken place in the UK, South Africa, Malaysia, Singapore, the Netherlands, the United Arab Emirates, Thailand, Macau, Sri Lanka, Canada, the United States, and Spain. The IIFA Awards is a three-day celebration filled with various events that culminates in the award show.
All award categories are divided into several big groups: Popular Awards, Musical Awards (sometimes considered a part of Popular Awards), Technical Awards, and Special Awards. Most awards honor films released during the previous calendar year, but special awards are typically presented for lifetime achievement or outstanding contribution. In 2009, five special awards (Male Star of the Decade, Female Star of the Decade, Movie of the Decade, Music of the Decade, Director of the Decade) were introduced to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the IIFA Awards.
As of 2018, films that have won the most awards at the IIFA Awards include Devdas by Sanjay Leela Bhansali (16 awards), 3 Idiots by Rajkumar Hirani (16 awards), Nikkhil Advani’s directorial debut Kal Ho Naa Ho (14 awards), Barfi! by Anurag Basu (14 awards), and Bhaag Milkha Bhaag by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra (14 awards).
Photo: iifa.com
