Press Release Grand Prix CIFFT 2009

Incredible Journey to India and Segovia

-         double win at the tourism film festival Grand Prix CIFFT

Friday, 13^th of November, the world's best tourism films were awarded in Vienna.

350 guests of the tourism and film industry were present at the festive awarding ceremony. This year even two films received the coveted Grand Prix trophy:

Colourful "Incredible India" (India) and the poetic portrait of a Spanish province "Segovia Tourism: Everything for All" (Spain) couldn't be more different, yet they achieved the same amount of points during the festival year. Four other films were honoured with prices of recognition - 'Mentions' - during the international tourism film festival Grand Prix CIFFT (Comité International des Festivals du Film Touristique), held traditionally in Vienna.

The festival organisers were honoured by the presence of the Tourism Minister of India Hon'ble Minister Kumari Selja. She came to Vienna to receive the Grand Prix for  "Incredible India" and to present the film. She stressed that the short clip showed only a small part of the multifaceted world of India. The internationally succesful "Incredible India" - campaign is now awarded as world's best tourism film. The four "Mentions" were given to films of the Netherlands, Austria, Portugal and Spain.

Austria kicks

The Austrian Production "Kicks & Hugs" by Tirol Tourist Board is fully dedicated to soccer. It shows the euphoria during the European Championship 2008 in Austria. Johannes Köck, head of Cine Tirol, came to Vienna to proudly receive the award. Hans Dominicus, head of the marketing departure of Amsterdam Tourism & Convention Board, achieved to win a 'Mention' for "Eye on Amsterdam". Verónica Bettencourt, tourism director of Ilha Terceira (Azores), received the Mention for Portugal.

Lucky winner David Cooper even got two prices: One for the production of the second Grand Prix winner film "Segovia Tourism: Everything for All" and one Mention for "Salamanca. Ciudad del Español".  On behalf of Segovia Tourism Doña Sofia Collazo Lopez attended the ceremony  to present her film to an international audience.

Host of the 21^st  Grand Prix was Vice President of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber Matthias Krenn and CIFFT President Josef Schütz. The awarding show was presented by Alexander Kammel, CIFFT Director and festival organiser.

Incredible India

The plot of the first Grand Prix Winner film is short but catchy: A young traveller experiences the vibrant, colourful, relaxing, breathtaking, friendly, mystical land that is India and is at a loss for words to describe his experience. He finally manages to encapsulate it in two words: Incredible India!

Segovia Tourism: Everything for All

The choreography interpreted by the Angel Corella Ballet of Castile and Leon in Spain submerges the spectator into the necessary poetic atmosphere and makes you follow the ballet dancers through the most significant enclaves in the providence Segovia.

Cultural heritage, nature and beautiful scenery, museums, traditional and modern cuisine, crafts, outdoor activities, hotels, rural lodgings... the quantity of tourism activities in Segovia can be seen in thematic order until a rich and diverse picture is completed.

What is CIFFT?

On the initiative of the already existing Viennese ‘Festival of Festivals’ in 1989 the organisers of the most prestigious tourism film festivals formed CIFFT (Comité International des Festivals du Film Touristique), i.e. The International Committee of Tourism Film Festivals.

The winner gains the Grand Prix CIFFT for the world-wide best tourism film of the year. The runners-up obtain a Mention of the Grand Prix as a sign of recognition. During the year each of the CIFFT festivals holds its own jury and awards independently prizes to the films entered into the competition. Counting the awards throughout the year, the overall winner is determined by a point system at the end of the year.

Endorsements

Our work is esteemed by international tourism organisations and we're proud to announce that CIFFT is endorsed by UNWTO (The World Tourism Organization), ETC (The European Travel Commission ) and PATA (Pacific Asia Travel Association).