European Film Festival 2011

Soul boy

Chandani

Vitus

Raise your head

Almanya

Venice

The European Union Delegation, Goethe Institute, British Council, Alliance Fracaise de Kotte, the French, Dutch, Swiss, Italian and Norwegian embassies and the Polish and Belgian Consulates in Sri Lanka officially launched the European Film Festival 2011 on September 22.

The film festival is held in the fourth consecutive year and the organizing committee is chaired by Goethe Institute of Sri Lanka. Like in the past years, the festival is supported by the National Film Corporation.

For the first time the film festival is split into two sections. A premium line of recently released European cinema productions (half of the 35mm film copies) will only be screened in Colombo. The second section focusing on children and the youth cinema will travel after screening in Colombo to Jaffna, Kandy and Galle.

The children and youth film section offer a varied and high-quality programme that focuses on the interest, longings and problems of the young cinema audience. Films takes us to unknown worlds or grant us completely new views of familiar surroundings, they influence our ways of living and thinking and have long been a fundamental part of the culture that will accompany us for a lifetime. This festival is a shared international cultural experience that aims to promote a friendly relationship and to increase the mutual understanding between European Nations and Sri Lanka.

One of the highlights of this year's programme is the screening of the award winning documentary "Chandani: The Daughter of the Elephant Whisper" , the story of a 16 year old Sri Lankan girl who wants to become a mahout like her father. Director Arne Birkenstock as well as the local film crew will be present at the screening at the National Film Corporation Cinema Hall.

The festival in Colombo will be held from Octomber 1 to 10 with screenings each day at the NFC Cinema hall and the Goethe Institute at 3.30 p.m. and 6.30 p.m. The festival programm in Colombo will include a total of 23 films. In Jaffna, the film festival will be held from October 14 to 16 at the Centre for Performing Arts Theatre Complex and in Kandy from October 21-23 at the E.L Senanayake Library hall and in Galle from October 28-30 in the Town Hall.

The Orange Girl	The last pulcinella

Prathibhaprabha 2011

A scene from Prathibhaprabha

The sounds of drum beats and synchronised footfalls will fill the air as the students of Methodist College, Colombo, present 'Prathibhaprabha' an Oriental Dance Recital, on September 29 and 30 at 6 p.m. in the college auditorium.

Choreographed and arranged by the staff and students of the school, under the direction of Mrs. Nadeeka Perera and Mrs. Chandima Pathirage, the performance celebrates tradtional dance forms of Sri Lanka and showcases both Kandyan and low country dance.

The dance-narrative will take the audience through the legendary account of Vijaya and Kuveni, depicting their meeting and subsequent separation, and the consequences for the entire country. Kuveni's curse on the country, following Vijaya's betrayal, leads to a period of desolation.

A 'Shanthi Karma' is performed to counteract the effects of the curse, which results in prosperity for the land.

The performance is presented by students from Grade 6 upto the GCE Advanced Level who study dancing as a subject.

The Road to Reconciliation and its enemies

A collection of essays by Prof Rajiva Wijesinha, 'The Road to Reconciliation and its enemies: documented evidence and logical argument against emotional exaggeration and soundbites', is now available at the Book Fair. Published by International Book House (Stall AQ 10), it contains refutations of the claims made by Channel 4 and Gordeon Weiss as well as the Darusman panellists, while focusing on efforts at reconciliation and rebuilding of the North. Assessing also the contribution of a few international actors, it records the very productive cooperation between the Sri Lankan governmant and the UN system and the ICRC in minimizing and alleviating suffering when the LTTE was holding Sri Lankan citizens hostage.

60 Sinhala novels to be published

Sixty Sinhala novels written by Jayakody Seneviratne will be published shortly by Dayawansa Jayakody publishers. The novels include award-winning Kumarihami, the latest edition of Adara Ganga Galan Desa and his latest creation Urachakramalaya.

The author will also publish an introduction to the novels he has written so far.

Puravidya Lipi - 1

Prof. Malinga Amarasinghe's latest book Puravidya Lipi - 1 will be launched at Dayawansa Jayakody Bookshop, Colombo 10 on September 27 at 10 a.m. Prof. Amarasinghe is the author of Ithihasa Kathandara, Lakdiva Rajamaliga, Lakdiva Buddha Prathimava, Sigiriya - Loka Urumayaka Vagathuga and Parani Lakdiva Vasthrabharana. It is a Dayawansa Jayakody publication.

Carnatic vocal music recital

Vocal music recital by Bagawathssing Nithiyanandan will be held at 6.30 p.m. on September 30 at the ICC premises 16/2, Gregory's Road (opposite Australian High Commission) Colombo 07.

The event is organised by ICC.

Nithiyanandan completed his Diploma in Carnatic Music at the Swami Vipulananda Music and Dance College,Batticaloa. At present he is working as Producer at Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (Nethra TV). Nithiyanandan has presented several Carnatic vocal recitals.