Sarasaviya Film Festival

A night to remember

Ruwini Jayawardana

A much awaited event in our cinema calender is the "Sarasaviya Awards Festival". This glamorous event, packed with popular films and celebrities, will commence at the BMICH on April 5 at 6.00 p.m.

The first "Sarasavi Film Awards" was held at Asoka Cimema, Grandpass, in 1964. This year's ceremony will

 commemorate with the 60th anniversary of the cinema industry. The "31st Sarasaviya Awards Festival 2006-2007" is organized by the Sarasaviya magazine of the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd. People's Bank will be main sponsor of the festival and President Mahinda Rajapaksa will be chief guest.

Fifteen movies from the year 2005 ( Guerilla Marketing, Ira Mediyama, Sudu Kalu Saha Alu, Sulanga, Sulanga Enu Pinisa, One Shot etc.) and twenty films from 2006 ( Naga Kanya, Eka Malaka Pethi, Anjalika, Hiri Poda Vessa, Nilambarae, Udu Gam Yamaya, Kurula Pihatu, Sewwandi, Ammawarunae etc.) will compete separately according to the year that they were released.

Awards for the best up coming actor and actress, best supporting actor and actress, best singer and songstress, best script writer, best director, best cameraman etc. will be presented along with a number of other awards.

Six merit awards and special awards like Rana Tisara , which is presented to two artists who have been a pride to the industry, and the Ranapala Bodinagoda Commenorative Award for the renowned script writer in the local scene, are included in the list.

The most popular film, the most popular actor and actress will be chosen from the votes of the public. The

highlight of the night will no doubt be the presentation of the best film, best actor and best actress awards.

With preparations for the ceremony under away, the authorities have also taken measures to conduct Sarasaviya Film Festivals in other areas of the island. This will give the public the opportunity to recapture the taste of some of the most popular movies of the year 2005 and 2006.

Anjalika, Sulanga, Sewwandi, Nilambarae and Hiri Poda Vessa will be screened at the Imperial Theatre, Kurunegala, from March 14 to 18 at 6.00 p.m. A Cinema workshop will also be conducted at the Town Hall in Kurunegala on March 14.

This opportunity will provide the new generation with a through knowledge regarding the industry. Professor Praneeth Abeysundara and Athula Samarakoon will be conducting the meeting.

Hiri Poda Vessa, Anjalika and Sewwandi will be screened at the Regal Cinema, Kandy, from March 23 to 25, 6.00 p.m. A workshop will be conducted by Prasanna Vithanage and Gamini Weragama at the Cultural Centre, Kandy, on March 22 from 8.00 a.m. to 12 p.m.

As a part of promoting the event at provincial level, all the films included in these two film festivals will be

 shown free of charge. The actors and actresses of the films will also be present.

Attending the official inauguration ceremony of the "31st Sarasaviya Awards Festival", Minister of Media and Information, Anura Priyadharasana Yapa stated that the "Sarasaviya Awards Festival" is a hallmark for the local cinema industry.

He commented that it is a steppingstone to debutantes in the field, changing them to stars in the industry.he also evoked the private sector to help in developing the cinema industry.