Vidya Balan: IIFA Master Class Panel will have Kevin Spacey

Hollywood actor Kevin Spacey will join Indian actor Vidya Balan at the IIFA (International Indian Film Academy) Master Class Panel to be held here next month. They will discuss trends in the movie industry.

The Master Class panel is one of the myriad sub-events that takes place during the main 15th Videocon D2H IIFA Weekend here.

Spacey will join other dignitaries from both Hollywood and Bollywood who will share their insights and opinions on a variety of subjects relating to cinema.

National award winning actress Vidya will preside over the informative session.

Since IIFA has always been viewed as a platform to bridge the gap between the Indian film industry and the international audience, what better than involving Hollywood in it.

“It has been our dream to be able to do this with the participation of Hollywood artists being featured within our events and this year as we debut in America we are proud to have achieved this with a Master Class Panel that features Vidya Balan,” Andre Timmins, director – Wizcraft International and IIFA, said in a statement.

“This panel will be an enthralling event that will create a great platform for knowledge exchange in the world of film and media,” he added.

During the panel discussion, the participants will also tap into the recent surge of digital media as a platform for television and film. They will even talk about the unique experience of shifting roles in the industry hierarchy.

Panelists will deliberate over the future of the respective film industries too.

Spacey has given Academy Award winning performances in “The Usual Suspects” and “American Beauty” as well as memorable performances in “Seven”, “Beyond The Sea” and his most recent role as Francis Underwood in “House of Cards”.

He also has a rich history in the theatre world and has been the artistic director of the Old Vic Theater Company in London for the last decade.

Spacey was made a CBE (Commander of the British Empire) by Queen Elizabeth for his services to theatre and won the Evening Standard and Olivier Awards for best actor for his stage role in “The Iceman Cometh” as well as a Tony award for best supporting actor in Neil Simon’s “Lost in Yonkers”.

He has also featured in the Broadway and West End productions of “Long Day’s Journey into Night” as well as the title role in the Sam Mendes production of “Richard III”.

The 15th Videocon D2H IIFA Weekend and the Tata Motors IIFA Awards will be held April 23-26. This will be IIFA’s debut in the US.

Input by IANS