The Agenda 14 Film Festival :

Opening new vistas for young film-makers

by Anuradha Kodagoda

The Agenda 14 Film Festival which opened yesterday at Goethe Institut Colombo concludes today. The festival features Sri Lankan and European short films. The Agenda 14 magazine in association with the European Union Academy opened a forum for young Sri Lankan short film-makers to showcase their talents.

Although there are many international film festivals organised annually in Sri Lanka, Agenda 14 Film Festival has unlocked the potential for young Sri Lankan film-makers to showcase their talents with the help of internationally acclaimed Sri Lankan film-makers.

Anoma Rajakaruna

"Through the Agenda 14 cinema magazine we have created a platform for short film-makers in Sri Lanka to express their opinions on their productions and international short films. This is the second festival we are holding," said the festival director and the editor of Agenda 14 cinema magazine, Anoma Rajakaruna. "Yesterday we premiered the short film titled 'Missing' made by the participants of the master class conducted by Ashoka Handagama. 'Missing' was selected as the best script of the group assignment given by Handagama at the master class and we facilitated the group to produce the short film and premiered it at the Agenda 14 Film Festival," she said. This year the Agenda 14 Film festival was started by the master class conducted by the internationally acclaimed film-maker Prasanna Vithanage.

There were hundreds of cinema enthusiasts who participated in the master class. The award ceremony will be held today at the National Film Corporation cinema hall (Tharangani) at 7 p.m.

Human rights

"The organisers will select the best short film for the jury award, the best animated short film, the best gender sensitive and human rights short film. A special award will be given to the most promising young film-maker. 'Ravaya' newspaper and Agenda 14 magazine will give away the 'Tissa Abeysekara Critics' Award' to the best critic.

The topic is 'The digital cinema in Sri Lanka - future and its challenges. The jury consists of Dr. Dharmasena Pathiraja, Ashoka Handagama, Vimukthi Jayasundara, Channa Deshapriya and Dr. Shemal Wijewardhana. A panel discussion will be held on 'Development and Cinema' in collaboration with the Centre for Poverty Alleviation." The award for the best short film may go to a documentary, feature short film or an animated short film. This is done to recognise all the categories as a medium of expression.

Agenda 14 Film festival will also try to eliminate male dominant approach in the Sri Lankan film industry. However, out of the 99 films received last year there were only five entries from females.

"With the availability of low-cost digital camera equipment and editing software, we see lots of young people such as university students and schoolchildren producing short films in Sri Lanka today. Most of them have no proper education in cinema or training in cinematography or editing.

"During the festival young film-makers will have an opportunity to interact with each other. They will also have the opportunity to study internationally acclaimed short films and participate in workshops," Anoma Rajakaruna said.