Sudath Devapriya’s ‘Uduganyamaya’, Prasanna Jayakody’s ‘Sankara’ and Vasantha Obeysekera’s ‘Aganthukaya’ won most of the major awards at the recently held SIGNIS Salutation for the years 2007 and 2008.
While ‘Uduganyamaya’ won most of the awards for the year 2007, ‘Sankara’ an internationally awarded film and ‘Aganthukaya’, a film on the tragedy of a man who did not conform to the social injustices, shared the main awards for the year 2008.
Well-known as OCIC, the festival is organized by SIGNIS (World Catholic Association for Communication) and it was affiliated to the Catholic National Commission for Social Communication to promote visual medium of arts, television and cinema.
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| Winners Nita, Ranjan and Malani |
SIGNIS is a Roman Catholic lay ecclesiastical movement for professionals in the communication media and was formed in November 2001 by the merger of the International Catholic Organization for Cinema and Audiovisual (OCIC) and the International Catholic Association for Radio and Television (Unda).
This years festival also honoured veteran filmmaker, Dr. Dharmasena Pathiraja by inviting him as the chief guest. The festival felicitated Mr. Pathiraja describing as ‘the renowned fore-runner of creative cinema in Sri Lanka’.
At the SIGNIS Salutation for the cinema directions screened in 2006, the award for Best Art Direction was given to Rohan Samaradiwakara for his creative talent in ‘Uduganyamaya’. Best Sound Editor was awarded to Kalinga Gihan Perera in ‘Hiri Poda Wessa’, Best Make Up to Wasantha Vittachchi in ‘Udugamyamaya’, Best Editor to Ravindra Guruge in ‘Sewwandi’, Best music direction to late Dr. Premasiri Khemadasa for his musical score for ‘Berunda Pakshiya’, Best Script to Udayakantha Warnasooriya for his script in ‘Hiripoda Wessa’ and Best Camera to M. D. Mahindapala for his cinematography in ‘Udugamyamaya’.
Sudath Devapriya’s ‘Uduganyamaya’ was awarded the ‘Highly Commended Creation’ while winning the Gold award for the direction. Much coveted best actress award titled Gold award for Creative Acting-(Female) was awarded to Chandani Seneviratne who played the lead role in ‘Udugamyamaya’. The award for Creative Acting-Female- Silver was given to veteran actress Malani Fonseka for her role as a mother in Dr. Lester James Peries’ ‘Ammawarune’. While popular Ranjan Ramanayake grabbed the Gold award for Creative Acting, child actor Mauli Fernando who played the role of a child shocked due to loss of a father’s affection won the Silver.
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| Nita receiving the award from the Chief Guest Dharmasiri Pathiraja while Chairman of SIGNIS Jury Rev. Fr. Sriyananda Fernando looks on. |
In addition there were four SIGNIS Awards for high cinematic skill for Sandali Welikanne, Asoka De Soysa, Jayantha Atapattu and Channa Perera. Young writer Nuwan Nayanajith Kumara bagged the Cyril B. Perera Memorial Award for the promotion of cinematic literature for 2007 while Aruna Gunaratne won the award for the 2008.
For the year 2007, Prasanna Jayakody’s ‘Sankara’ became the Creative Direction while Vasantha Obeysekera’s ‘Aganthukaya’ won the award for the year’s Most Esteemed Cinematic Creations.
Among the other awards given to ‘Aganthukaya’ Creative Script to Wasantha Obeysekera and both Gold Award and Silver award for acting to Saumya Liyanage. ‘Sankara’ bagged the Creative Art Director award for Sunil Wijeratne, Creative Music for Nadika Guruge, Creative editing for Ravindra Guruge, Creative Cinematography Gold award to Palitha Perera. The awards for other films included Creative Make up to Wasantha Vittachchi for ‘Uppalawanna’, Silver Award for Creative Cinematography to Ruwan Costa (Sankranthi), Silver Award for Creative Acting to Wijeya Nandasiri for ‘Sikuruhathe’ and Gold Award for Creative Acting to Nita Fernando in ‘Nisalagira’.
SIGNIS Special Salutation- 2007 for the contribution made to Sri Lankan cinema was awarded to acclaimed director Prasanna Vithanage while Bertram Nihal won for the year 2008.
Nita wins the third SIGNIS
Veteran Actress Nita Fernando won her third Best Actress SIGNIS award at the recently held SIGNIS Salutation.
Nita won ‘Creative Acting Gold Award-2007’ for her role in ‘Nisalagira’. She played the rold of a Minister’s wife, who was forced to become a victim of drug mafia in her attempt break away from the loss of her son.
She won her first Best Actress award then called OCIC award in 1976 for her role in ‘Duhulu Malak’ and again won in 1999 for the challenging role in ‘Pawuru Walalu’. She also won Best Actress award at the 11th Singapore Film Festival for the same role.
In 1999 she won the Wishwa Keerthi award at Sarasavi Festival.
Giving her the award, the SIGNIS citation read ‘For getting deeply engaged in a portrayal that expands the viewers in depth -understanding of life -through refinely controlled gestures, entering the character both physically and spiritually,’.
‘Nisalagira’ was directed by Tanuj Anawaratne and produced by Yolanda Weerasinghe. |
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