The Air Canada Centre located in the heart of Toronto downtown, rocked on the evening of Saturday, August 4th, 2012, when singers, actors and directors of the Punjabi film industry descended to see a dream come true — the first Punjabi International Film Academy Awards (PIFAA).

Cinema plays an integral role in promoting and strengthening cultures and languages. Punjabi cinema has seen a turnaround in recent times with good movies and new promising talent.

Hosted by actors Sonu Sood, stand-up comedian Kapil Sharma and actors Divya Dutta and Gurpreet Ghuggi, there were ample rustic doses of Punjabi laughter, and a responsive crowd jeered at every punch thrown by them.

The PIFAA anthem, ‘Sada Punjab Ontario….’, kicked off the event and PIFAA brand ambassador and Hindi film superstar, Dharmendra, bared his heart in his opening speech.
Speaking on the occasion, Harinder Takhar, the Minister of Government Services, Ontario, said that Punjabis had now got a festival of their own and that this event would go a long way in preserving Punjabi language.