MUMBAI: In its endeavour to cement the increasing global image of Bengali films, the organisers of the International Bangla Film Academy (IBFA) has decided to host its own award ceremony in Thailand from 9 to 11 June.

Touted as the most glittering award ceremony to be held for Bengali cinema, the award will be given in 19 categories, with films released between 1 January and 31 December 2011 coming under the scanner, an IBFA spokesperson said.

The best film nominations include critically acclaimed films like Baishe Shrabon, Icche, Noukadubi, Ranjana Ami ar Ashbona while actresses Konkona Sen Sharma (Iti Mrinalini), Raima Sen (Noukadubi), Sohini Sengupta (Icche) and Koel Mallick (Paglu) were among the nominees for best actor (female) category.

Among the male actor nominees are actor-turned-director Anjan Dutta, Jishu Sengupta, Prosenjit Chatterjee, Rudranil Ghoshand Sabyasachi Chakraborty.

Those nominated in the best director category are Anjan Dutta (Ranjana Ami ar Ashbona), Rituparno Ghosh (Noukadubi), Sandip Ray (Royal Bengal Rahasya), Anindya Bannerjee (Chaplin) and Shibuprasad Mukherjee (Icche).

The awards were originally scheduled to take place from 9 to 11 March but postponed to June due to the Bangkok bomb blasts and cancellation of Kingfisher flights.