Ever wondered how to become a filmmaker with 10 dollars? Join ‘Art in The Village’ featuring ‘Kolamb

An impelling screening of ‘How to become a filmmaker with 10 dollars’, a film about two wannabe-filmmakers stuck in a small Indian-ocean island where local cinema is dying trying to discover a path to realise their film-making dream presented by Wannabe Films showcased by ‘Art in The Village’ featuring ‘Kolamba Talkies’ will be held on Sunday 4 June at 7 p.m., at The Sooriya Village located at No.49, Skelton Road, Colombo 5. Admission free. All are welcome.

The Sooriya Village is uber excited to announce ‘Art in The Village,’ the ultimate open mic event, an opportunity not only accepting, but celebrating and promoting artists to perform through all forms of the word “Art” itself.

‘Art in The Village’ provides artists from musicians to dancers to dramatists to film directors to writers and much, much more to showcase and discuss their art with audience members. Every month ‘Art in The Village’ will be screening a unique collection of art produced by local artists from all corners of the nation. 

The very first ‘Art in The Village’ is to kickstart this June featuring ‘Kolamba Talkies’ screening ‘How to become a filmmaker with 10 dollars’, a film by first time filmmakers Dennis Perera and Chandana Prasanna and the film was nominated in the Best Director category at Barcelona Planet Film Festival 2016. 

‘Kolamba Talkies’ (KT) came to light in 2014 as a concept that brings Sri Lankan indie filmmakers together through a chain of screenings. Given that it’s common to have the works of many new generation filmmakers go unnoticed on the web without making it to a screen or without any constructive dialogue being formed around it mainly because the only spaces that accommodate such works are a limited number of film festivals and competitions held annually and the amount of productions that come about on a daily basis are far too many in number to be accommodated at such events. 

KT tries to fill this void with a monthly casual gathering that provides a space to all those who want to share their work and thoughts on productions and even to seek assistance for their ongoing work. KT is committed to keep away from formal structures of the industry and holds its screenings at homes, garages, open spaces or similar informal gathering spaces where there are no bureaucratic or thematic limitations welcoming all film and art enthusiasts!  

First time filmmakers Dennis Perera and Chandana Prasanna present ‘How to become a filmmaker with 10 dollars,’ a film recognised internationally at Euro-Fest – European International Film Festival 2016, Barcelona Planet Film Festival, and the Los Angeles CineFest where the film was selected as a Semi-Finalist. 

A story about two friends, with just 10 dollars in their hand, set to interview famous local filmmakers in a bid to find a way to realise their filmmaking dream. With a handy-cam borrowed from a colleague and a guerilla-style shooting setup, they try to talk with as many filmmakers as possible, in the hope of cracking the ‘secret’ of becoming a filmmaker.

Featuring award-winning filmmakers Vimukthi Jayasundara, Sanjeewa Pushpakumara and Prasanna Vithanage, this documentary follows an unconventional and heady journey, which reveals interesting aspects of Sri Lanka’s dying film industry and the story of a few people who are still not ready to leave the sinking ship.

Dennis Perera who has studied the arts of theater, film direction, television programming and acting both formally and informally in and out of institutions, is the director of ‘Thathagatha’ (2007) and ‘Gotaimbara Kolama’ play performed in 2016 among a few other short dramas. He is the writer and director of ‘Three wheel diaries’ a film which is to be screened in the future among other short films directed by him. ‘How to become a filmmaker with $10’ is his first collaborated documentary film with his friend Chandana.

Chandana Prasanna debuted his film career with the short film ‘Ape Kale Weerayek’ (2005) which was awarded one of the 10 best shorts in 2005 by Sri Lanka National Film Corporation. Later he worked with several directors on some guerrilla film projects as a writer, director and an editor. He edited Boodee Keerthisena’s latest feature ‘Alone in a Valley’ (2017) and guest directed Thisara Imbulana’s debut feature ‘Nino Live’ (2017). 

The Sooriya Village is a facility fabricated to educate and cluster artists by bringing them together from all corners of the nation. Birthed from a simple children’s bookshop decades ago, which later altered into a record label that produced some of the greatest tunes of Sri Lankan music, The Sooriya Village once again aims to transform the industry with its new and exciting facility. 

Located in the heart of Colombo, the facility provides amenities such as rehearsal suits, a top gear recording studio, library and research services, a tech based lecture room, a restaurant with mouthwatering delights, dorms, tea/coffee/juice lounge, performance spaces and plenty of hang out 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’. 

For more details of the event, please contact The Sooriya Village on 0112552666.