The Surrey Board of Trade says it has been snubbed by the Times of India Group, which has scuttled a Surrey event during its taxpayer-funded celebration of Bollywood cinema, concluding next week in the main event April 6-8.
“This is simply unacceptable and disappointing, especially as 30% of Surrey’s population is South Asian,” said CEO Anita Huberman. “We really wanted this to be a regional event – but all events are taking place in Vancouver – and one took place in Richmond on March 2 related to a fashion show.”
In an emailed statement to BIV, TOIFA spokeswoman Laura Balance said, “The Times of India Group worked very hard to stage an event in Surrey, but the latest scenario in Surrey involved a private venue with a capacity of 950 people and we did not feel that in a city of half a million people that that would constitute a true community event.
“Further, there was significant concern about event issues such as policing and security in inviting the community to engage with a major Bollywood star in a venue with such limited access.”
Huberman and the Surrey Board of Trade were boosters of the original bid for the International Indian Film Academy awards, which were proposed for June and would have included a film festival with screenings at the Strawberry Hill cinema in Surrey. The BC Liberal government and Mumbai, India promoter Wiz Craft could not agree on a price, so the government opted to host the inaugural Times of India Film Awards April 4-6. However, it earned sharp criticism that the event is a Liberal promotion to gain votes in the South Asian community in the upcoming provincial election.
Premier Christy Clark said it would cost taxpayers $12 million when she unveiled plans on January 22.
However, published itemized list of costs from the government seems unlikely for the TOIFA event, because the Times of India Group’s BCCL International Events Private Ltd. was awarded a $9.5 million sole source contract from the Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training Ministry effective December 12, 2012, for “managing the Times of India Film Award event, including conceptualization, planning, production and execution of all aspects of the events, including pre-and post-event activities,” according to a document obtained via Freedom of Information.
The B.C. government is withholding the contract and business case until April 19, according to a March 6 letter to BIV in response to an FOI request to the Finance Ministry.
“This is a heckuva lot of money for one award show,” said NDP critic Spencer Chandra Herbert. “People want to know how much is being spent on limos for the stars and international flights, at a time when B.C.’s own film industry or a lot of areas are going for a lack of money.
“What kind of protections exist for the taxpayer, should this go over budget? Are people being paid for their work or is it volunteer around the production?”
TOIFA includes an April 4 concert at the Pacific Coliseum, April 5 invite-only technical awards and nominations gala at the Vancouver Convention Centre and the April 6 awards at BC Place stadium, which is scheduled to be broadcast in India by Sony Television.
During Question Period on March 5, minister responsible Pat Bell declared the awards were “sold out,” but thousands of tickets remained as of March 28.
The TicketMaster online map showed no availability on level 2, but an abundant supply of tickets in all 27 sections in use on level 4 and in 24 of 39 floor seating sections. There were even front row seats available. Tickets are priced between $60 to $525 plus taxes and fees.
“TOIFA is very happy with the amount of tickets sold,” Ballance said.
The Rosedale on Robson Hotel is sold out for the weekend with ticketholders and production team members, according to sales manager Rey d’Cunha. The Georgian Court Hotel and Hampton Inn Vancouver, both across the street from B.C. Place, still have rooms available.
Ticket brother Kingsley Bailey of Vancouver Ticket and Tour Service said inquiries have come only from locals who are interested only in the lowest-priced tickets.
“They did not want the expensive ones,” Bailey said. “The powers that be threw a lot of money hoping to get a lot of votes. I think they’re probably going to be papering the place.”
