Art in The Village is the Official Fringe Festival for COINS!

Art in The Village, the monthly movie screening at The Sooriya Village, is back for a fourth time, this time as the Official Fringe Festival of the COINS Film Festival and with ‘Hanthane Kathawa’ on Sunday, 3 September 6:30 p.m. onwards at No. 49, Skelton Road, Colombo 5. 

Art in The Village is a free-for-all event which happens first Sunday of each month in the quaint gardens of The Sooriya Village. Art in The Village is an attempt to reach back in time to evoke appreciation for classical movies and the inspirations behind them, as well as to create a dialogue around the themes of human experience. 

The task The Sooriya Village and the creators of Art in the Village have so nimbly set out to accomplish is to slow time down to immerse in the experience of being around a cinema screen in friendship and create conversation bringing back a fresh appreciation for the arts. 

The fourth instalment of Art in The Village is also notable for being the Official Fringe Festival of the COINS Film Festival, first ever and the only International Students’ Film Festival in Sri Lanka which is a platform that aims to educate budding filmmakers, giving them a push into the world of cinema. 

At Art in The Village they will be screening four short films; one feature film and three animation movies. Two of them will be from Sri Lankan budding filmmakers while the rest from international students.

1. ‘Silence’ by Chadi Aoun (From the MedFilmsPackage) 

Running time: 15 minutes 20 second 

2. ‘Common Hole’ by Asma Ebrahimzadeqan (from the Iranian Independents package) 

Running Time: 17 minutes 45 seconds 

3. ‘Shadow in the Dark’ by Chirath De Silva (Sri Lanka Foundation – Digital Film Academy) 

Running Time: 24 minutes 

4. ‘Overrun’ by Pierre Ropars, Antonin Derory, Diane Thirault, Jérémie Cottard, Matthieu Druaud, Adrien Zumbihl (Supinfocom Rubika)

Running time: 8 minutes

Consequently ‘Hanthane Kathawa’ will be screened from 9 p.m. onwards. Set in the 1960s, directed by Sugathapala Senarath Yapa, who is most known for ‘Hanthane Kathawa,’ but has brought the Sri Lankan audience such gems as Pembara Madu and Induta Mal Mitak as well. 

What better setting for a romantic movie than the idyllic surroundings of the University of Peradeniya? So much local literature and drama stems from the misty hills of Hanthana with little doubt as to why. ‘Hanthane Kathawa’ perfectly captures this sentiment, the heady romanticism that goes with being young and surrounded by the perfect romantic natural setting.

Aruna (played by VIjaya Kumaratunga) is a poor village boy whose ambitions take him to the University of Peradeniya where he meets a beautiful girl (Swarna Mallawarachchi).  A love triangle ensues and the movie centres around Aruna’s indecisive nature, as he cannot seem to grasp the intricacies of romantic relationships. The movie swirls around the ever eternal topics of the trials of being young, ambitious and the confusing nature of romantic relationships.  

The success of ‘Hanathane Kathawa’ is also attributed to the cinematic debut of the enigmatic Vijaya Kumaratunga and the casting of Swarna Mallawarachchi right alongside the cinematic legend Tony Ranasinghe.

The Sooriya Village provides amenities such as rehearsal suits, a top gear recording studio, library and research services, a tech-based lecture room, a restaurant with mouth-watering delights, dorms, tea/coffee/juice lounge, performance spaces and plenty of hangout area. 

Sooriya’s vision is to provide a facility for artists and art enthusiasts to nurture and explore the culture of arts delivering the best possible service and experience. The Sooriya Village welcomes all you vibrant art lovers for a refreshing evening away from the daily hustle and bustle to enjoy Art In The Village.