TV Times

TV Times

Spring Cinema in Wintry Rotterdam
Susitha R. Fernando reporting from Rotterdam
The climate is freezing cold with the temperature hovering between -1 0 and - 6 0 in Rotterdam, but the filmmakers, actors, actresses and film critics and jury members from all over the world have gathered to witness the latest wonders of young and experienced filmmakers.

The biggest annual film event in the Netherlands, the 35th International Film Festival of Rotterdam is taking place here with a massive Participation of filmgoers from different walks of life from different parts of Europe.
From January 26 Thursday onwards, during this twelve-day Festival, filmmakers present their work to a large and dedicated audience in 24 screening venues located within central Rotterdam.

Up to 3,000 press and film industry representatives have arrived at the festival to report and catch the buzz on its premieres or to take part in CineMart, the largest co-production market for film projects.

This year's festival has importance to Sri Lanka as well as to Asia. While young filmmaker Vimukthi Jayasundara's 'Sulanga Enu Pinisa' (Forsaken Land) is selected to be screened under the 'Cinema of the World', which reveal 'the social, political and cultural commitment of filmmakers', Renowned Japanese filmmaker Nagasaki Shunichi has been selected for the honorary section of 'Filmmakers in Focus'.

The festival was officially opened with Nagasaki's 'Heart, Beating in the Dark' on January 26. The filmmaker who attended the festival's 'Opening Night Ceremony' was also honored with tribute screenings Of thirteen of his films throughout the festival. Vimukthi's film has four public screenings in addition to one media screening and Vimukthi has come to Rotterdam to witness the reaction of the audience for his debut directorial venture that became a Controversy in his own country, Sri Lanka.

Having participated as a trainee at the 'Project for Young Film Critics' last year, I witnessed the changing and developing phase of international cinema captured here in Rotterdam.

Opening the screening at the main hall in 'De Doelen' Theatre, director of the film festival Sandra den Hamer speaking about the main competition said, 'We are very excited with this year's line up in the Competition. They are from all over the world and vary greatly in style. After a long absence of young Americans in our competition, it is great to now have two very strong candidates from the US. This year also China is represented at Rotterdam with two fresh and energetic débuts. All fourteen films selected for the final round reveal great promise and talent for the future!' In the competition solely opened for director's first or second feature direction, fourteen films compete for the Tiger Award and competition line up included nine world premieres, three international Premieres and two European premieres.

‘Devoted to screen, offer a platform to and actively support independent filmmaking from around the globe, the Rotterdam film festival is the essential hub for discovering film talent, for watching and catching the first word of mouth on its many world and international premieres, for exploring its competitions, main sections of recent feature films, Short films and documentaries, visual arts Exhibitions, theme sections and debate’ Ms. Den Hamer explained.

The main programme sections of the 35th International Film Festival Rotterdam also include the Tiger Cub Awards Competition for short films, 'Cinema of the Future': Sturm und Drang (innovative films by upcoming talent), Cinema of the World: Time and Tide (socially and culturally committed filmmaking including a rich harvest of new films supported by the festivals Hubert Bals Fund), 'Maestros: Kings and Aces' (films by the accomplished maestros of amateur cinema), 'Cinema Regained' (independent or avant-garde film classics, documentaries on film), 'Short': As Long As It Takes (short films up to sixty minutes) and Filmmakers in Focus.

The special 2006 section 'White Light' presents a series of contemporary and new 'drugs driven' films. The programme offered hallucinating cinema - a neglected but important part of experimental filmmaking - as well as 'narco cinema' in which drugs appear as plot catalyst.

The festival has organized its international co-production outfit CineMart, its Hubert Bals Fund giving financial support to film projects from developing or southern countries, trainee projects (Rotterdam Lab and IFFR Trainee Project for Young Film Critics, Passions and Promises) and debates.

In previous years IFFR was a special arena for other young and notable Sri Lankan filmmakers. In the 2004 Festival Prasanna Vithanage's 'Ira Mediyama' (August Sun) was screened while Satyajit Maitipe's Bboradiya Pokuna (Scent of a Lotus Pond) competed and reached the final round at this festival.

Vimukthi Jayasundara's script for maiden film 'Sulanga Enu Pinisa' was awarded Prince Claus Film Grant Award for The best Cine Mart project in 2004. Regaining the glories of six decades old film industry, lets look forward to see many more Filmmakers from Sri Lanka visit Rotterdam to see fast development and changes that take place in the world of cinema.

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