NFC's explanation for barring films for SAARC Film Fest

The National Film Corporation last week summoned a media conference to clarify its stand with regard to the alleged objection made against the selection of films made by veteran filmmaker Tissa Abeysekera to be screened at the SAARC Festival of Culture on the occasion of SAARC Charter Day in December 2006 in New Delhi.

Asked for the reasons why the two films ‘Sulang Kirilli’ and ‘Iramediyama’ were dropped, the NFC head responded saying that the e-mail exchanged with regard to the said event was at a personal level and not at the official level.

‘I will hand over the inquiry to a Presidential Investigation Unit and request the Ministry of Cultural Affairs to inquire into the matter," Asoka Serasinghe said.

The NFC Chairman said that Foundation of SAARC Writers and Literature (FOSWAL) which organised the event was a non governmental organisation and it is only another organisation which conducts film festivals with the participation of countries from the South Asian region. (This is not relevant to the issue). In reply to queries at the press conference held at the Corporation last Tuesday, he stated that he is not responsible for the correspondence between the NFC consultant Mr. Ananda Ariyaratne and the Foreign Ministry official Satya Rodrigo. "I didn't accept any e-mail regarding this matter as it does not come under my purview. I regard this correspondence as purely personal,".

Mr. Serasinghe said that there was no doubt about Mr. Tissa Abeysekera's competence to be recommended representation of the country. We see this remark is hilarious if one does not see the tragedy underlying Mr. Serasinghe's comment. As Mr. Tissa Abeysekera has been chosen by the relevant authorities dealing with the SAARC Festival of Culture for his competence it does not need the chairman of the NFC to second it.

"We have no objection to these films being screened in India and if any person who wants to do that should follow the procedure and request clearance" the Chairman said.

It is felt that the e-mail directed to the chairman September 4, 2006 at 10.54 am has not been according to the procedure accepted by the chairman personally! As it happens the chairman puts the blame on Mr. Abeysekera who has been chosen to recommend the films. It is a puzzle that Mr. Abeysekera should handle the official clearance mandate which is the prerogative of the Foreign Ministry.

"Tissa Abeysekera never talked to me about this or made any request." Is it necessary that Mr. Abeysekera promote his selection as the chairman implies in this instance?

Mr. Serasinghe also said that Ananda Ariyaratne is not a consultant but assigned to work in the International unit of the NFC and this was for seven months.

Mr. Ananda Ariyaratne who was present at the press conference was questioned on what authority he objected the two films. "As a citizen of this country I felt that these two films were not suitable specially with regard to the present situation in the country," he said.

It seems that most of the officials and authorities of the NFC are lost in a wonderland as the reply the queries are reminiscent of the tea-party in Alice in Wonderland.

Issue concerning the selection of the films began when the two films Inoka Satyangani's "Sulang Kirilli" (The Wind Bird), Prasanna Vithanage's "Ira Mediyama" (August Sun) along with Jayantha Chandrasiri's " Guerrilla Marketing" were selected by filmmaker and writer Tissa Abeysekera, (one of the members of the chapter of the Foundation of SAARC Writers and Literature (FOSWAL)) on the request of the organisation.

Veteran filmmaker, Mr. Abeysekera's selections had been objected to and two other films "Sooriya Arana" by Somaratne Dissanayake and "Sulanga" by Benette Ratnayake were proposed by one Mr. Ananda Ariyaratne.