While Sri Lankan cinema is said to be undergoing a difficult time with an occasional film to pull a crowd to theatres, a recent attempt by a lesser known group ‘Kithusara’ brought new hopes of a better future for the cinema in future.
A short film competition titled ‘Jesus Today’ proved the enthusiasm and passion among the ordinary youths for cinema, specially those who had not studied it all.
 |
| Winners – Best film Jude Samantha (middle), second place Samantha Perera and third place Koshila Peiries. |
“By any standards the talents shown with limited resources by these young filmmakers are a great achievement not only for them but for the cinema as a whole,” said award winning cameraman, director and cinema teacher Andrew Jayamanna, the chief guest at the award ceremony.
Organised by ‘Kithusara’ meaning ‘The Essence of Christianity’, an organization comprised of priests of different Christian communities and youths, the main aim of the festival was to identify the mission of Jesus in the present world.
Twelve films produced by all first timers with limited facilities, very low-budget and inadequate technology showed their broader and powerful outlook to cinema as a medium of communication.
 |
| Chief guest Andrew Jayamanne addressing the gathering |
Showcasing the social and economical struggles faced by youth, poor and desperate communities, the films discussed a variety of themes poverty, war, love, loneliness, importance of inter-religious harmony and fate of children in a war-torn environment.
The film festival was organized with basic facilities and the support of friends and well-wishers of ‘Kithusara’. “Even the trophies awarded to first three places were designed and beautifully crafted by a carpenter who was happy to support us,” said Preman Fernando, one of the organizers of the festival.
“At a time when the death is more common than the struggle to life and death has become an easy answer, the aim of life is not to give up but to embrace it. For this purpose handling the cinematic medium….” read the citation for the film ‘The Life’ directed by Jude Samantha which became the Best first in the inaugural short film festival.
The second place was won by Samantha Perera for his cinematic creation ‘Faith’ and the third place was won by Koshila Peiries for her film ‘Defeating a storm’.
“As artistes we must provide the audience to see and experience real art not garbage. Most of the teledramas now being telecast do not come under the category of art,” said Andrew Jayamanna, a pioneer director of teledramas.
“We must not take the audience for fools. Soon there will be a day where the TV audience will give up this low quality mega teledramas,” Mr. Jayamanna said.
Andrew Jayamanna is also the long standing teacher of OCIC cinematography course which has produced a large number of filmmakers to the country’s cinema more than 60 year old cinema industry.
“We are planning to make this an annual event, plans to expand into other mediums like painting, photography, short stories, songs and hymns and drama competition and exhibition with the same theme of ‘Jesus Today’” Rev. Dr. Sherad Jayawardena, the mentor and the guide of ‘Kithusara’ group.
|
E-mail
