‘IFFCOLOMBO 2014’ offers international cinema experience to Sri Lankan audience

Friday, 25 July 2014 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

By Waruni Paranagamage Offering a great international cinema experience to Sri Lankan film enthusiasts, the ‘International Film Festival of Colombo’ (IFFCOLOMBO) is

set to be held for the first time ever from 2 to 7 September. The festival is organised by the Film Directors Guild of Sri Lanka in association with the ‘Okinawa International Movie Festival’ in Japan. Cinema has the power of exploring and addressing the private and social prospect of human beings. The industry has the ability of sharing universally, the different understandings and interpretations of life. Although Sri Lankan cinema made its first move in the industry in 1947, it was reborn with a truly Sri Lankan identity by 1956. In that year Sri Lankan cinema was represented for the first time in an international film festival (Cannes Film Festival) with Dr. Lester James Pieris’s ‘Rekhava’ (Silver Line). Even if Sri Lankan cinema came to be well-known among independent festival audiences around the world, it

could not initiate a lasting international film festival in Sri Lanka. Festival Director of the Film Directors Guild of Sri Lanka Ashoka Handagama said “Although Sri Lankan cinema has managed to garner recognition among independent festival audience the world over, we do not have an effective international film festival of our own. But our dream of hosting a grand festival is becoming a reality”. Describing the history of collaboration with the Okinawa Film Festival, Handagama stated that the group from Okinawa met with representatives of the Film Directors Guild in 2012 at the Tokyo Film Festival where they agreed to give Yen 10 million to initiate the festival in Colombo. As they have discussed, a group visited Sri Lanka to witness the current status of the industry and was pleased to help. The festival mission was to introduce globally recognised art-house movies, which do not come as commercial releases to Sri Lanka, to local audiences and expose local films and filmmakers to the world. “Actually Okinawa hopes the festival will attract the audience and will be a great success. If the festival becomes a success they will be with us, but we must try to stand by ourselves,” added Handagama. More than 70 films selected from countries like France, India, UK, US, China, Germany, Nepal, Israel and Switzerland will be screened at four major cinemas in Colombo during the festival. The list of films also includes African, Caribbean and Latin American films to offer a worldwide cultural experience to the Sri Lankan audience. The films that will be screened are also divided into nine categories including the Juliette Binoche retrospective, Michelangelo Antonioni retrospective, Spanish female directors, Sri Lankan new currents, Sri Lankan diaspora films and children’s movies. Regal cinema, the Majestic cinemas, Empire and Thararangani cinema will be the main theatres for the festival. IFFCOLOMBO Programmer Anoma Raajakaruna told the media that the festival includes excellent films making only their second global screening and their first screening in the Asia.

Having an annual international film festival has multiple benefits to the country. It helps cultivate a passion for cinema among the public. It is a vital condition in developing cinema as an art form and as an industry. Exposure to quality cinematic works produced from around the world make people more broadminded and absorptive. Giving experience to a multi-ethnic society is significant for overall development. The organisers also hope to develop Colombo as an international destination for quality cinema in the region via the festival. The festival will be an opportunity to explore Sri Lanka’s potential to use cultural tourism as a development strategy. Secretary to the Ministry of Mass Media and Information Dr. Charitha Herath said that the government is pleased to welcome and encourage these kinds of initiatives. “Although the government couldn’t organise the international film festival due to time and other barriers, we appreciate and encourage the private sector to take part in promoting this industry.” The organisers extended a special invite to school teachers, parents and university students to come and experience a different kind of cinema. President of the Film Directors’ Guild of Sri Lanka Prasanna Vithanage told the Daily FT that they have already started the grassroots programs to promote the festival among the universities and expect to publicise the event through the international media. He also said that films going to be screened have got approval of the Public Performance Board.

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