FILM FESTIVAL

IFFCOLOMBO 2015: Enlightening moments

by Anuradha Kodagoda

With the captivating theme, 'Be enlightened' (Oba Awith Pirenna), the International Film Festival of Colombo 2015 (IFFCOLOMBO), which got underway with all the pomp and glory befitting the biggest film festival in town, concluded on Wednesday (November 11) giving a huge boost to the upcoming filmmakers in the country. The Festival held in association with the Okinawa International Movie Festival, the National Film Corporation and the Directors' Guild of Sri Lanka (DGOSL), saw Sri Lankan filmmaker, Shameera Rangana, adjudged winner of the 'Asian Competition' for his debut film 'Motor Bicycle'. The Asian Competition was introduced for the first time at IFFCOLOMBO 2015.As in the previous year IFFColombo 2015 was both a treat and a novel experience for Sri Lankan cinema-goers, who got the opportunity to savour the latest international films, free of charge. It was also a huge success with enthusiastic crowds thronging the various cinema halls that were Festival venues.

The Festival began with a grand inauguration ceremony and the screening of 'Dheepan' at the Regal Cinema on November 6, with distinguished celebrities, professionals of the cinema industry and enthusiastic cinema lovers.The Cannes Golden Palm award winning movie is directed by French filmmaker Jaques Audiard, and the lead roles are performed by Sri Lankan born Jesuthasan Antonythasan and Kalieaswari Srinivasan. It was thrilling to notice Kalieaswari Srinivasan joining with the crowd to watch her film at the opening ceremony. Addressing the closing ceremony IFFColombo, Festival Director and world renowned filmmaker, Asoka Handagama said, "The festival was a great success and we are pleased to see thousands of enthusiastic cinema-goers this time too at the Festival. It is a great encouragement and we thank all who kept this festival alive."

Pix: Malan Karunarathna, Lalith C. Gamage, Ranjith Asanka