European Film Festival 2012 :

Bonanza for film enthusiasts

by Anuradha Kodagoda

The European Film Festival 2012 will be held in Colombo from November 30 to December 7 at the National Film Corporation cinema hall. The European Union Delegation in partnership with Alliance Francaise de Kotte, the British Council, the Embassy of France, Goethe Institut, the Embassy of Italy, the Embassy of the Netherlands, the Embassy of Norway, Consulate of Poland and the Embassy of Switzerland in Sri Lanka will launch it.

The Head of Politics and Press, European Union, Terhi Lehtinan said, the "European Union and Sri Lanka have a long-standing partnership. In addition to being a development partner EU mandates in Sri Lanka also extend to support the cultural cooperation and the film festival is one good example of it.

Richness

The festival will provide an opportunity for film enthusiasts to enjoy the richness of European cinema in the true spirit of European Union's slogan, United in Diversity.

All the films selected for the festival are combined with creativity in multiple languages and highlight several modern themes in European societies.

The festival will be opened with the screening of Sri Lankan Tamil film Ini Avan (Him, Hereafter) by Ashoka Handagama.

The film festival will also be held in Kegalle and Jaffna. The festival program includes four films; three European and one Sri Lankan film.

The closing film will be an Italian film directed by Paola Randi Into Paradiso which has a direct link with Sri Lankan societies.

The film is based on a scientist from Naples; a shy and clumsy man and a fascinating former Sri Lankan cricket champion who has just arrived in Naples penniless, the Curator of the festival, Anoma Rajakaruna said.

Black Venus (France), The Deep Blue Sea (UK), 4 Days in May (Germany), Mary and Johnny (Switzerland), Bon Voyage (the Netherlands), Limbo (Norway) and 80 Millions (Poland), Schlafkrankheit (German), The Khutokeino Rebellion (Norway), Sonny Boy (The Netherlands), My Words,

My Life, My Love (Switzerland), Salmon Fishing in the Yemen (UK), 2 Days in Paris (France) and Into Paradiso (Italy) will be screened at the festival.

Free

The festival in Colombo will be open from December 1 to 7 with screenings each day at 3.30pm and 6.30pm. Entrance will be free. Four films will be screened at the Kegalle St. Joseph's Balika Maha Vidyalaya (Primary) auditorium on December 8 Films will be screened at the Centre for Performing Arts in Jaffna on December 15.