SUVA, November 26, 2008 - FIJI'S cinephiles can look forward to soaking up the glamour and glitz of Hollywood and Bollywood when the country hosts the Fiji International Film Festival in 2010.

Film lovers will be able to see - and some may perhaps even rub shoulders with - the stars of the silver screen and other film personalities right here in Fiji.

The FIFF initiative was announced last Friday during the 2009 Budget Address by the Interim Prime Minister and MInister for Finance and National Planning, Commodore J.V.Bainimarama.

Mr. Bainimarama announced that corporate sponsors who support the funding of the event will receive a 200 per cent tax deduction on their contribution.

In greeting the announcement the CEO of the Fiji Audio Visual Commission, Taniela Bolea, said this was fantastic news for the industry and for Fiji as a whole.

"The FAVC has been contemplating this project since our inception but it takes a bold initiative by Government to turn the dream to reality, something we are most grateful to this Government for," Mr Bolea said.

Mr Bolea said an international film festival in Fiji will be an exciting and distinctive milestone in the country's history to be celebrated not only by the people of Fiji but by film enthusiasts in the industry, the media, and movie fans from near and far. It sure to enhance the country's image to the world.

"The aim of the festival will be to attract moviegoers not only locally, but also from all areas of the South Pacific, Australia, and New Zealand and further afield. It will help attract more visitors to Fiji and extend the peak season for tourist arrivals. The festival will aim to be instrumental in raising the profile of Fiji as a country to visit and with whom to do business, and will be a mix of entertainment, lively events, educational programming and seminars, inspiring movies, and meaningful community outreach," Mr Bolea said.

He said that the 200 per cent tax deduction would be an execellent investment for corporations with tax liabilities, as not only would they be getting great tax benefits, but they would be also contributing to the establishment of an exciting international event which will benefit Fiji for years to come.

The FIFF will be organised under the auspices of the FAVC. It is anticipated that part of the revenue generated from the event will be utilized by the Fiji Audio Visual Commission to reduce its current reliance on Government funding.

The FAVC was allocated $1 million (VIP) in the 2009 Budget to promote and develop the audiovisual industry in Fiji, which covers films, TV, video, music, ICT and Studio City Zones.