‘Riverston’ bags the ‘Best Director’ at Kolkata Film Fest
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Director Lalith Rathnayake
By Susitha R. Fernando
In a remarkable international award streak, filmmaker Lalith Rathnayake’s film ‘Riverston’ has secured yet another prestigious accolade, this time at the 31st Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF) in India. Rathnayake was honoured with the ‘Golden Royal Bengal Tiger Award for Best Director’, which carries a cash prize of 2.1 million Indian Rupees. ‘Riverstone’ was featured as an official selection in KIFF’s main competitive section, International Competition: Innovation in Moving Images.
In July ‘Riverston’ won two other awards at the 27th Shanghai International Film Festival Golden Goblet Awards held in China.
Along with co-writer Nilantha Perera, Rathnayake was honoured with the ‘Asian New Talent Award’ for Best Script Writer, while Prabath Roshan received the ‘Asian New Talent Award’ for Best Cinematography for his exceptional visual work on the film.
“Riverston’ explores the intertwining and unraveling of personal thoughts and concerns of three police officers and a victim-to-be of an extra judicial killing.
There have been many instances where suspected underworld criminals have been killed while in police custody, ostensibly in shootouts while accompanying officers to show arms caches. It is widely held by the general public that while the rule of law has been severely compromised, the police have, on such occasions, acted arbitrarily and with disregard for due process.
Mahendra Perera and Shyam Fernando
It is not the police nor the particular officers but the particular governments that require such suspects to be eliminated. The police merely executes their wishes. For this, relevant officers are offered the carrot of possible promotions. This film discusses the thoughts and concerns of three officers as they travel together to a destination marked for the assassination of a suspect with whom they have no quarrel whatsoever.
The talented cast of ‘Riverston’ includes Mahendra Perera (Sergeant Udayasiri), Shyam Fernando (Inspector Pinnawala), Priyantha Sirikumara (PC Chandrapala), Randika Gunathilaka ( Nanditha), Ananda Kumaraunnahe (PC Ranaweera) and Prabodini Chandrasena (Sudu Menike).
Produced by Prabath Roshan and Nimanthi Porage for Cinearts Films, ‘Riverston’ was shot in and around locations spanning Kandy, Digana, Medamahanuwara and the breathtaking ‘Riverston’ mountain range.
Randika Gunathilaka
Experienced in miniscreen and cinema, Rathnayake’s debut movie ‘Vishama Bhaga’ or ‘The Other Half’ which was completed in 2019 won more than 50 international awards. The movie ‘The Other Half’ plot was focused on the meaning and values of education and multivalence of
the phenomenon.
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