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National Short Film Awards 2016:
Reconciliation through short films
“Sri Lanka is a multi-cultural and multi-religious country that has
an amazing diversity. However, we see that there are many forces who try
to ruin this beauty of diversity. Young short film directors can play a
significant role in promoting acceptance for diversity,” said Dr.
Dharmasena Pathiraja, a well-reputed Sri Lankan Film Director. He
delivered a keynote speech at the National Short Film Awarding Ceremony
held at the Postal Head Quarters Auditorium on August 21.
 The National Short Film Competition 2016 was organised by the Rural
Economic and Community Development Organization in partnership with the
Sri Lanka Foundation, National Film Cooperation and Sri Lanka
Development Journalist Forum under the theme ‘Respect Diversity for
United Identity’.
The purpose of this competition was to encourage young short film
directors to capture the reality of post conflict development and to
bring their perspectives on issues affecting reconciliation. The
competition also recognised Sri Lankan Youth Policy 2014, and UNSCR 2250
that promotes youth inclusion in peace building.
Reasons
Dr. Pathiraja noted, “There are several reasons as to why diversity
is not being seen as strength. This includes the voting system,
administration of institutions, education and many more that ultimately
create a bad impact on the future generations. Youth has enormous
potential to mobilize people to respect diversity for united identity”.
He said, “Cinema is an attraction. Therefore, the young short film
makers should be able to use their skills and expertise to put them
together with this attraction to carry it as a beautiful masterpiece to
the audience”.
Prior to the short film competition, a training workshop was
organised for 30 young short film makers from Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim
backgrounds. The purpose of the training was to provide skills and
knowledge for young short film makers on producing short films
addressing root causes of violence, grievances of people affected by the
conflict and promoting reconciliation. Youth were also given extensive
training on understanding, respecting and celebrating diversity as well.
The training was conducted by well-known professionals of the film
industry and academics including Dr. Sunil Wijesiriwardena, a trainer in
peace building, Vimukthi Jayasundera, a well-known film director,
screenwriter and visual artist, M.D. Mahindapala, a famous Sri Lankan
cinematographer, Upali Gamlath, an eminent film director and Dhanushka
Gunathilake, Senior Lecturer of the Digital Film Academy section of the
Sri Lanka Foundation. This training was funded under the Youth
Empowerment Grant program of the US Embassy Sri Lanka.
Nearly 30 short films were submitted by youth including participants
of the training as well as other short film makers across the country.
The winners of the National Short Film Competition were awarded by
Dr. Sumithra Peries, Dr. Dharmasena Pathiraja, Dr. Somarathna
Dissanayake and Sudath Mahadivulwewa.
The first place of the National Short Film Competition was awarded to
S. Vimalraj for his remarkable short film Vilimoody. The award for the
second place was given to Eranda Sri Amil Mahagamage for his short film
Once upon a time with Cow Boys while S. Sivaraj winning the third place
for his short film Battleground.
Jury
These films captured many issues during the postwar period of Sri
Lanka. Especially, problems with regard to resettlement, clearance of
mines, missing persons as well as arms and ammunition were clearly
depicted in these movies.
According to the recommendation made by the panel of jury, apart from
the three national awards, three jury awards were also presented. Hence,
the young short film makers, Dhananjaya Bandara (Coffee), J L Jeroshan
(Missing) and S. Vimalraj (Flood) received jury awards for their films.
Teledrama and film maker, Sudath Mahadivulwewa representing the jury
of the National Short Film Competition noted, “I appreciate the fact
that this whole program took the initiative to recognize and award some
young artists who are not directly involved in the film industry of Sri
Lanka.
In selecting the short films, we carefully looked at how a short film
has been used as a communicative tool. A short film is an independent
art. It is not shortening of a long film. Unfortunately, in Sri Lanka,
people who are engaged in making short films are very less”.
The certificates for the participants of the National Short Film
Competition were given by the eminent film and tele-drama producer and
the journalist Renuka Balasooriya.
National Winners
S. Vimalraj - Vilimoody (1st Place)
Eranda Sri Amil Mahagamage
- Once upon time with cow boys
(2nd Place)
S. Sivaraj - Battelground (3rd Place)
Jury award winners
Dhananjaya Bandara - Coffee
J L Jeroshan- Missing
S. Vimalraj- Flood
- P.R.
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