By Susitha R. Fernando To celebrate International Women’s Day this year, a film marathon on gender based violence by Anomaa Rajakaruna will be held at Goethe Institute Colombo on March 9 2013. A six hour long film marathon from 2.00 pm-8.00pm will showcase five features and five documentaries by Anomaa on domestic violence, women’s property [...]

The Sundaytimes Sri Lanka

‘INSIDE OUTSIDE’ A cinematic voice against Gender Based Violence

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By Susitha R. Fernando

To celebrate International Women’s Day this year, a film marathon on gender based violence by Anomaa Rajakaruna will be held at Goethe Institute Colombo on March 9 2013. A six hour long film marathon from 2.00 pm-8.00pm will showcase five features and five documentaries by Anomaa on domestic violence, women’s property rights, re-productive rights, sexual harassment at workplaces, women in politics and girl child.

Anomaa who has won several international awards for her documentaries has directed more than 20 documentaries on gender based violence and a few tele-films as well.  Some of these films were screened at several women’s film festivals around the world as well. One of the documentaries screened will be “Yet another five…” a documentary about five rape victims and the film has been screened at various women’s film festivals.

The festival includes films ‘Bodimak Saha Pasdenek’ (2004) starring Kaushalya Fernando, Ama Wijesekara, Priyankara Ratnayake, Grace Ariyawimal, Daya Alwis and Namal Jayasinghe), ‘Heta Aluth Davask…’ (2008) played by Ratna Lalini, Jagath Manuwarna, Tissa Abeysekara, Chandra Kaluarachchi and Sweenitha Subasinghe and and ‘Vilangu’(1989) played by Chandani and Palitha Silva).

Other features scheduled to be screened include ‘Senehaka Kathawak’ (1985) (Radha de Mel, Douglas Ranasinghe and Ratnawali Kekunawela) and ‘Suddhi; The Cow’ (2000) based on a Malayalam short story (Priyankara Rathnayake, Nishadi Rathnawali,Nadee Kammellaweera and Nirmala Wijesekara).

Five documentaries are based on issues raised on ‘Beijing Platform for Action’. “I made several documentaries on Domestic Violence Act for lobbying purposes with decision makers and the judiciary and after the bill was passed in parliament I made several documentaries to create awareness of the Act among women as well as the law enforcement agencies,’ speaking on the Film Marathon or the Mini Film Festival Anomaa said.

“The idea behind festival is to encourage people to come and go as they wish. It is not only about watching films, it’s about meeting others especially women and discussing the issues raised in the films as well,” she added.




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