TORONTO, Jan. 19 /CNW/ - CIBC (CM: TSX;NYSE) today proudly announces that it will be a presenting sponsor of the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards to be held in Toronto in June 2011.

The IIFA Awards, also known as the 'Academy Awards of Bollywood', are the annual film awards for India's global movie industry. This is the first time this event will be held in North America and it is expected to attract over 40,000 visitors to Toronto as well as a global audience of 350 million viewers.

"The IIFA 2011 program will not only shine a spotlight on the very best of the Indian film industry from around the world, but, as importantly, it will showcase the diversity, pride and passion of Canada's South Asian communities, and Canadians of all backgrounds," said Sonia Baxendale, President of CIBC Retail Markets.

CIBC clients have access to more than 1,100 branches and offices across Canada. These branches reflect the communities in which CIBC operates, with many offering service in a number of languages, including Urdu, Punjabi, Hindi, Sinhala, Farsi, Telugu, Marathi, Gujarati, Bengali (Bangla) and Tamil.

"Our sponsorship of IIFA is just another example of how CIBC, together with our employees and clients, embrace Canada's diversity. At the same time, we are excited to honour the cultural, artistic and business contributions of the global South Asian community," said Ms. Baxendale.

In additional to being a presenting sponsor for the International Indian Film Academy Awards in Toronto in 2011, CIBC has a long history of supporting South Asian community events and organizations, including the Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce (ICCC), Punjabi Virsa Day, Diwali Mahautsav in Toronto, ON, Vaisakhi celebrations in BC and various Diwali, Eid and other cultural celebrations in Vancouver, B.C., as well as the Mosaic - South Asian Heritage Festival in Mississauga, ON.

About CIBC
CIBC is a leading North American financial institution with nearly 11 million personal banking and business clients. CIBC offers a full range of products and services through its comprehensive electronic banking network, branches and offices across Canada, and has offices in the United States and around the world. You can find other news releases and information about CIBC in our Press Centre on our corporate website at www.cibc.com.