‘I Will Tell Film Festival’ boosts Lankan cinema
Newcomer Nilendra Deshapriya’s ‘Thanha Rathi Ranga’ (Between yesterday and tomorrow) with his debut film stole the show at ‘I Will Tell Film Festival’, London winning the Best Drama award last week. Celebrating the eighth year with the theme THE ‘R’ THING, on relationships, Nilendra’s film won out of more than 30 international films. With lead juror Bart Gavigan, world-renowned Hollywood script doctor, this year’s awards ceremony was held on September 9 at the Venue at Pimlico Academy, London.
“This is a great honour for the country” said Nilendra speaking about his victory. “A powerful story, character driven, executed by a filmmaker with a true grasp of cinema. It reminded me a lot of early Fellini films like ‘I Vitelloni’ and ‘La Strada’” said Bart Gavigan, the lead juror describing ‘Thanha Rathi Ranga’. Among other awards Evan Grae Davis won the Best Documentary Award for his documentary ‘It’s A Girl’ and Eugene Choi Best Short Film for ‘Connected’.
Held from August 30 to September 9, the festival paid tribute to African-American author, poetess, actress and singer Maya Angelou. The name of the festival ‘I Will Tell’ has come from a conversation that started years ago between festival director, Jenny Lee and an inspirational young woman called Anel on the plains of Thoera in Mozambique. There Anel had vowed to tell the world about the importance of an education she was denied because of her gender and culture. She said Ninazawapanga School – I Will Tell them about education. The festival uses the power of stories to help people to get from where they are to where they need to be.
‘Thanha Rathi Ranga’ is to be released in the EAP Film circuit across the country from the first of November.