The first ever International Buddhist Film Festival held in Sri Lanka during Vesak this year ended with the Best Foreign Short Film won by Malaysian filmmaker Lid Sim for his film ‘The Oil Lamp’ while young Sri Lankan filmmaker Mahesh Munasinghe won the Best Local Short Film for his ‘Sachchamatha’.
Organised by Light of Asia Foundation and National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka during the Vesak period, the film festival was held together with other attractive events like book fair, souvenir arts and crafts sale and Buddhist art exhibition.
The festival also included short film competition, competitions of films produced through mobile phones, photography and E-Vesak cards. Among the other awards ‘Heart Sutra’ by Japanese director Satoshi Hirayama won the second place and ‘Sneakarma’ by Kazubiko Mizusbina (Japan) was in third position. In the local category ‘Grandmother’s Treasure’ of Lasantha Jayasinghe was placed second while ‘Towards Enlightenment’ by Samitha F. Edirisinghe was in third position.
In the competition of short films made through mobile-phones, in the first position was ‘Vesak Udaanaya’ of Sunil Wijesingha and the second place was secured by ‘Pooppam Milayaathi’ directed by D. Chaminda and the third place by by C. Gamage Wimalaratne.
A total of 200 short films competed in both the local and international categories of the competition and selected entries were screened at the Film Festival during Vesak at the BMICH. The panel of judges who selected the winners was headed by media personality Edwin Ariyadasa.
Among the other competitions, the Best Photograph- colour was won by D.L. Perera while other two places were won by V. Liyanage and P. Amarasinghe. In the Black and White section C. Perera was in the first place while S. Kodagoda and R. C. Abeywansha won the other two places.
The Best e - Vesak Card was created by T. D. Samadhi Ranjana Dewage while Gayani Shashikala and Nimanthi Heshani won the other awards.
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