Agenda 14 Short Film Festival opens in Matara

by Anuradha Kodagoda

We are witnessing a digital revolution where millions of web users watch short films as they become the standard communication tool.

Even though this is the current trend around the globe in terms of short films, here in Sri Lanka, the deserved recognition for short films as an art form came a bit late.

A short film is like a burning candle. Once its message and essential intrinsic theme and purpose light up the surroundings, it begins to light more candles. It inspires more artists and writers.

Most probably a short Film is the film-maker's first step to introduce the audiences his or her oeuvre and style. It is sad that Sri Lankan short film-makers don't always get enough opportunities to show their work in front of an audience.

In this context Agenda 14 Short Film Festival's contribution for the Sri Lankan short film industry is remarkable.

Being one of the pioneer short film festivals in Sri Lanka which could mark the imprints by recognising young talents of short film making in the country, is now ready to expand their scope further by launching a travelling film festival covering few main cities of the country.

In an interview with Montage, the Festival Director Anomaa Rajakaruna said, "For the first time, the award winning films of 4th Agenda 14 Short Film festival will travel outside Colombo with the support of Canadian High Commission and Swiss Embassy in Colombo.

The travelling festival will be launched today at the Matara main post office auditorium at 9.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. All the award winning short films of 4th Agenda 14 Film Festival will be screened and a master class on short film making will be conducted by veteran cinematographer M D Mahindapala. Thereafter, the festival will travel to Nawalapitiya, Ampara, Mannar, and Jaffna."

The 4th Agenda 14 Film festival which concluded last December, has received nearly 100 admissions of short films around the country. At the film festival they screened 40 short-listed short films.

There were six awards, the same as previous years' under the categories of Best Film, Jury Prize, Sunila Abeysekara Memorial Human Rights Prize, Most Gender Sensitive Film, Most Promising Film-maker (under 24 years of age) and Best Animated effort.

The 4th Agenda 14 Short Film Festival introduced an award to recognise the contribution of the previous generations' short film-makers.

The tribute went to the legendary film-maker Sugathapala Senarath Yapa by recognising his enormous contribution for the Sri Lankan film industry. Especially winning an award internationally at the Indian International film Festival 45 years ago for his short film Minisa Saha Kaputa (Man and the craw).

"For the first time, last year's Agenda 14 Film Festival could treasure trove a young film-maker from the Northern peninsula, Mathavan Maheshwaran. He won two main awards for his short film Appaal - Most Gender Sensitive award as well as Most Promising Film-maker Award that we offer for a young film-maker who's under 24 years. We are pleased to bring his film to his community in Jaffna and share the experience without limiting all the screenings in Colombo," Anomaa said.

We talked to a few award-winning short film-makers of 4th Agenda 14 Film festival who got the opportunity to travel around the country by sharing their visual experience with different audiences.

Sumudu Athukorala won two main awards - the Best Short Film award for his film 'Hole in the wall' and and his latest short film "A very short film about killing" awarded with Sunila Abeysekara Memorial Human rights award.

The "Agenda 14 short film festival marks a very important landmark in Sri Lankan film culture. Currently there are many young film-makers expressing their philosophy and views on several issues through short films. A few years ago this culture did not exist.

When technology of cameras and editing equipment became easily available, a lot of young artistes started to make short films. Even though there are so many short films produced in the country there was no stage for them to screen their work. The annual event of Agenda 14 short film festival came up at a crucial moment. Now all the short film makers have an arena to display their work.

I have been submitting my short films to this festival during the past couple of years I got the chance to write my name under the awards only last year.

Personally it is a great achievement and I was thrilled to win two main awards in the same year. Honestly that gives an encouragement and confidence for me to make more films and actively work in my film-making career," Sumudu said.

"It's my childhood dream to be a film director. 'Appaal' is my first cinematic approach and I'm so grateful for Agenda 14 to recognise my work. Most importantly in parallel to the film festival there are other events going on such as master classes and film discussions and workshops.

And the support and contribution of well-known film-makers to the Agenda 14 short film festival open the doors to young film-makers to get a vibrant exposure," said Mathavan Maheshwaran, the winner of most gender sensitivity award and most promising film-makers award at the 4th Agenda 14 film festival.