Restoring Sri Lankan cinema
The National Film Corporation (NFC) has initiated historic endeavour to preserve and restore Sri Lanka’s cinema productions of yesteryear.
Three renowned experts are now in Sri Lanka to share their knowledge of film restoration and conservation. David Walsh – Digital preservation Consultant, IWM Training and Outreach Coordinator, FIAF, Mick Newnham – Former Manager of Conservation service at the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia (NFSA) and Shivendra Singh Dungarpur – Founder Director – Film Heritage Foundation Director, Producer – Dungarpur Films will conduct workshops providing theoretical and practical knowledge of film preservation and restoration.
The first workshop will be held at 10 am today at the National Film Corporation, while two other workshops will be held for a selected group on March 12 and 13 at Sarasavi studio in Dalugama. A discussion on the film preservation (on invitation) will be held on March 14.
“A project to restore and preserve Sri Lankan films was a repeated request and appeal by none other than country’s pioneering filmmaker, Dr. Lester James Peries,” said National Film Corporation Chairman, Sithendra Senaratne.
“Many films of yesteryear with golden memories are being destroyed forever due to a lack of a proper film restoration and preservation programme” the NFC Chairman said. At the request of the leading filmmakers and other artistes, the government has allocated Rs 20 million for its budget and the project was initiated with the support of International Federation of Film Archives (FIAF).
Dr. Lester James Peries’ ‘Rekava’ which was restored and converted to DCP technology will be screened at 6.30 pm and the seating will be on first come first serve basis.