Activism against violence and women’s power in cinema
Anomaa Rajakaruna Artistic Director of the festival
In line with the United Nations sponsored international campaign ‘16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence’ starting this months, the Second Colombo International Women’s Film Festival will be presented as an online festival starting from November 30.
Jury member Dr. Sumathy Sivamohan
The day also marks the launch of South Asian Women’s Day and the virtual film festival will go on till December 14.
Presented by Agenda 14, the festival is conducted in partnership with International Federation of Film Societies – Asia Pacific Section.
It is presented in two stages—from November 30 to December 6-Short Films in Competition (National and International) and from December 7 to 13 showcasing documentaries and feature films. The festival will come to an end with award ceremony conducted following all health guidelines and social distancing practices on December 14 and a video would be uploaded.
This year the International Jury is comprised of Sri Lankan filmmaker and academic, Prof. Sumathy Sivamohan, German filmmaker, Tatjana Turanskyj and curator and film producer from Singapore, Wahyuni A. Hadia
Jury Member German filmmaker Tatjana Turanskyj
The Lifetime Achievement Award of the festival will be presented to veteran Indian filmmaker and actress Aparna Sen. On behalf of Ms. Sen a representative from the Indian High Commission will accept the award.
“We originally planned to have the festival from March 15 to 23. But it had to be postponed due to the first wave of Covid-19 pandemic. Then it was scheduled to have during the 16 days Activism as a public event. But this too was impossible as the country was hit by the second wave of Covid-19 pandemic” said Anomaa Rajakaruna, Artistic Director of the Colombo International Women’s Film Festival.
Jury member Wahyuni A. Hadi Singaporean Curator and producer
“So with the unfortunate and unexpected outcome we had two options; either to postpone the festival for next year or have it as a virtual festival. If we postpone it would have been unfair by those applied for this year’s festival. We got permission from partners to go online and have a virtual festival,” Anoma said. She noted that the virtual festival will be an opportunity for more film lovers who do not want to physically go to theatres but want to watch films from their homes.
The entire festival will be free of charge and free access to watch the films could be obtained by logging on to the Colombo International Women’s Film Festival facebook page.
The short films in competition-National include ‘Thé Kahata’ (00:16:53|2020) by Yasodhara Kariyawasam, ‘Urumaya’–‘Inheritance’ (00:20:00|2020) by Lanka Bandaranayake, ‘The Ruins’ (00:09:31|2018) by Senathirajah Vanitha, ‘Fake ID is watching’ (00:07:10|2019) by Fathima Kamila and Ashfaque Mohamed, ‘It’s not a Tall Short thing’ (00:16:00) by Shalini Divyanjalee, ‘H2O’ (00:06:00|2018) by Fathima Shanaz, ‘We made the Bomb; We made the Womb’ (00:05:41 |2020)by Namini Panchala, ‘Life On Land’ (00:03:08|2019|Animation)by Piyumi Sriyangani, Dilsara Sindupani, Yahanika Colonna, ‘Two Curries’ (00:07:30|2020) by Narthanie Serasinghe, ‘Beyond The Mirror’ (00:05:00|2019)by K. L. H. Maduwanthi, ‘Inside’ (00:04:30|2018) by Ayesha Suraweera, ‘Deprimere’ (00:11:00|2019)by Paramie Jayakody, ‘Carrot’ (00:03:18|2019) by Dumindra Ridmi and ‘Light and Life’ (00:03:15|2019/Animation) by Upeksha Mahawaththa, Aruni Jayawardhana and Randi Imalka.
Veteran Indian Filmmaker and actress Aparna Sen will be awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award
The Short films in competition – international are ‘MaaTuki’ – Find Me Mother (00:04:00|2019| Animation| India) by Suchana Saha, ‘Posharini’ – The Saleswoman’ (00:27:00/2018/Drama/India) by Sreecheta Das, ‘Driving Lessons’ (00:13:00/2019/Drama| Iran) by Marziyeh Riahi, ‘Ice Cream’ (00:09:00|2018|Drama |Nepal) by Sangita Shrestha, ‘SafedSar’ (00:10:52|2019|Fiction |Afghanistan) by Atefah Hesari, ‘Ice’ (00:15:00|2017| Fiction|Estonia) by Anna Hints, ‘Diadem’ (00:29:53|2020|Documentary|Bosnia and Herzegovina)by Milana Majar, ‘Once upon a time in Kurdistan’ (00:09:33/2019/Fiction/Iraq) by Zhino Hadi Hassan, ‘Meenalaap’ – ‘Fish Monologue ‘(00:26:00|2018|Drama| Bangladesh) by Senjutee Suborna Tushee, ‘My Name Is Petya’ (00:15:00 |2019|Fiction| Russia) by Daria Binevskay, ‘Illuminati’ (00:14:00|2017|Fiction| Croatia-Serbia) by Nina Belina, ‘Mamatva’ – Motherhood (00:30:00|2018| Fiction|India) by Kirti Singh, ‘Performer’ (00:30:00|2019|Fiction| Bangladesh) by Tasmiah Afrin Mou and ‘Tenebrae’ (00:16:00| 2018|fiction| Singapore)by Nicole Midori Woodford.
