A promising future for Lankan cinema
The 8th edition of the “Agenda 14 Short film festival” ended recently giving more hopes for the future of Sri Lankan cinema. Most of the film productions that were presented proved that the country’s cinematic future is full of young filmmakers with creative ideas. Organised by Agenda 14 led by Anomaa Rajakaruna, the jury comprised leading cinema, art and literary personalities including Asoka Handagama (Chair), Saman Wickramaarachchi, Kaushalya Fernando, Juan Carlos Lemus Polania and Cayatri Diwakalala Among the award winners;
‘Waves Interrupted’ by Dimon John won the Best short Film award, ‘Wind through the holes’ by Roshan Edward won the Jury Prize, ‘Arise’ by Hilusha Hewagama won the Green Award while Dulanka Devendra won the award for the Most Promising Filmmaker, for his internationally acclaimed short film ‘Children of White’.
The award for the Most Gender Sensitive Film was won by Dimon John for his ‘Waves Interrupted,’ while the Sunila Abeysekera Memorial Human Rights Prize was won by Roshan Edward for his film ‘Wind through the holes’.
The awards for outstanding performances were won by Mahendra Perera in ‘Frozen Heart’, Chandima Karunadasa’ in Waves Interrupted’ and Selvam Fernando in ‘Wind through the holes’.
Among the other nominations, Mahasen Kalahe’s ‘Walv’ and Randi Pavi Kaluarachchi’s’Bless This Home’ were nominated for Best Film and Human Rights Prize while Rahula Jayasekara’s ‘Black Money’ was nominated for Best Film and Sumedha Ranasinghe’s ‘Pitch Darkness’ was nominated for Most Gender Sensitive Film.