Promoting and showcasing regional cinema, the SAARC Film Festival will kick off from today, May 26 in Colombo. The festival has a been a platform to exhibit the cinematic culture in member states of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooporation (SAARC) and to interact, share knowledge and understand those interested in South Asian cinema. [...]

The Sundaytimes Sri Lanka

SAARC Cinema Shines

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Promoting and showcasing regional cinema, the SAARC Film Festival will kick off from today, May 26 in Colombo. The festival has a been a platform to exhibit the cinematic culture in member states of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooporation (SAARC) and to interact, share knowledge and understand those interested in South Asian cinema.

Held for the third consecutive year, the festival will feature cinematic creations representing Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives, and Sri Lanka. An eminent Jury panel from Russia, Iran and Singapore will adjudge the Best Feature Film and documentary Film at the end of the weeklong festival while a special workshop also is organized by the Centre for Directors and other Artistes of the films as well as experts in the Film Industry on May 29 at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute.

Organised by the SAARC Cultural Centre, the festival will be held at the cinema hall of the National Film Corporation, Colombo.
Last year the Sri Lankan nomination, Prasanna Vithanage’s ‘Akasa Kusum’ , won the Best Feature film award while the award winning Documentary “ Saving Face” from Pakistan won the Best Documentary Film award. Nominations had been received from Bangladesh, India, Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Inaugurating at 5.30 pm on May 26, the festival will be opened with Bangladeshi feature film ‘Guerilla’ at 6.30 pm. The feature film screening will be at 3.30 pm and 6.30 pm.

On May 27 the Maldivian movie ‘Insaaf’ will be screened at 3.30 pm and the Indian film ‘Paan Singh Tomar’ at 6.30 pm. On May 28 the Bangladeshi film ‘Amar Bandhu Rashed’ will be screened at 3.30 pm and the award winning Pakistani film ‘Seedlings’ at 6.30 pm. Premiered at New York City International Film Festival 2012 and bagged two international awards: People’s Choice for Best Film and Best Actress in a Leading Role ‘Aamina Sheikh’. ‘Seedlings’ stars Aamina Sheikh and Mohib Mirza.

‘Sweeker’ Nepali feature film will be screened at 3.30 pm on May 29 and Sri Lankan film ‘Gamani’ directed by Sarath Weerasekara at 6.30 pm. On May 30 Bangladeshi feature film ‘Dhag’ will be screened at 3.30 pm and Nepali feature film ‘Bokshi’ at 6.30 pm. The screening will end with Sri Lankan filmmaker Wasantha Moragoda’s ‘Mouse’ at 2 pm on May 31.

Meanwhile documentary film screening will include ‘Loknayak Kangal Harinath and Al-Badar’ (Bangladesh) and ‘Tashi and Sakteng’ and ‘Cost of Climate Change’ (Bhutan) at 1 pm on May 26, ‘Kaatal and Afterglow’ (India) and ‘Wake up and Kagaj’ (Nepal” at 10 am on May 27 and ‘The Story of Living Saint’ and Bike ride from us to Pakistan’ (Pakistan) and ‘Blood and Ceylon Tea’ (Sri Lanka) at 10 am on May 29.

The entrance for the festival will be on free of charge.




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