The entries for the 35th SIGNIS Salutation in order to recognize creative cinema and teledrama works screened and telecast in the year 2010 are now being called by the National Catholic Social Communication Centre.
Seventeen films and 54 teledramas will compete this year to win more than fifteen awards in each field of art in the awards ceremony which was well-known as OCIS and UNDA.
The awards ceremony which is running for nearly four decades has been the pioneer in introducing many areas in recognizing talents in the audio-visual medium in Sri Lanka.
Speaking on the SIGNIS Salutation veteran media personnel, Edwin Ariyadasa said that this award ceremony had introduced many novel items like keynote speech to an awards ceremony and reading citations to each award. He also appreciated the contribution made by Fr. Ernest Poruthota, Fr. Benedict Joseph, Fr. Paul Fernando and Fr. Cyril Gamini organising this valuable awards ceremony acting as National Directors of OCIC and SIGNIS.
The newest introduction to the SIGNIS competition is short visual creations in any format as documentaries or as films. Experienced filmmaker Givantha Arthasad introducing the new section said that short films were the stepping stone for any major filmmaker and the main aim of this competition is to introduce young filmmakers to the Sri Lankan cinema industry.
“Almost all the filmmakers here and abroad started their career in cinema with short films and unlike in the past it is not difficult to make films today. One can make a film even with a cellular phone,” filmmaker Arthasad said. These visual creations could be made using still pictures and could be even in the silent medium.
In addition three new awards are to be given for the creative one-episode teledrama of the year, television documentary and short visual picture creation for television. An amateur film critique is invited to write an essay on ‘Nawa Thaksanaya Cinematawa saha Rupavahiniyata Balapana Akaraya’ (How Cinema and Television are affected by New Technology) and the winner will be awarded the ‘Jayawilal Wilegoda Memorial Award’.
The entries for all the competitions should be submitted before April 30, 2011 at SIGNIS Office, 19, Balcolm Place, Cotta Road, Borella, Colombo 8.
In addition to awards, three SIGNIS International Homages will be presented to veteran cinema personalities and also the Cyril B. Perera Memorial Award for the promotion of cinematic literature.
Casablanca to
celebrate classics
Screening of one of Hollywood’s evergreen classics ‘Casablanca’ will take place at 6.00 pm on Tuesday, April 5 at the American Center, Colombo 3.
Directed by Michael Curtiz this 1942 American romantic drama starring Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman and Paul Henreid, and featuring Claude Rains, Conrad Veidt, Sydney Greenstreet, Peter Lorre and Dooley Wilson is set in unoccupied Africa during the early days of World War II: An American expatriate meets a former lover, with unforeseen complications.
Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart), a night club owner, and his friend Captain Louis Renault (Claude Rains), Prefect of Police, enter into a wager as to whether or not Resistance Leader Victor Laslo (Paul Henreid) will be able to escape Casablanca and reach the Free World. When Laslo arrives in Casablanca, Rick is stunned to find him accompanied by his ex-lover, Ilsa Lund (Ingrid Bergman). Filled with mystery, suspense, intrigue and romance, Casablanca will remain a favourite of classic movie lovers for years to come.
‘Sihina Puraya’ on seven families
‘Sihina Puraya’ a mega teledrama revolving around an incident in a housing scheme consists of seven extraordinary families and is now being telecast on Sirasa TV daily from Monday to Friday at 7.30 pm.
Directed by Ranjan Prasanna, the teledrama is produced by Sandya Mendis for Susila Productions.
‘Sihina Puraya’ stars Gamini Hettiarachchi, Giriraj Kaushallya, Nilmini Buwaneka, Ajith Lokuge, Chamila Peries, Kusum Perera, Manel Wanaguru, Sarath Karunaratne, Ganga Jeevani Weliwatta, Harshana Chathuranga and Giwantha Arthasad
Seven families in ‘Sihina Puraya’ are completely different to each other but they all share their innate qualities like happiness, revenge, anger and love.
The story starts as five ladies of the ‘Sihina Puraya’ get ready for a pilgrimage to “Dambadiwa”. It is a two week journey but they place many conditions to their husbands, children and boarders. They raise the rules and conditions because they know the entire setup of the houses will be messed up when they are out. But the husbands of ‘Sihina Puraya’ persuade their wives to undertake the journey, because they are waiting to spend the most interesting two weeks of their lives and are obliged to comply with all the conditions imposed on them.
The husbands, children, and boarders feel great freedom in the absence of the five wives. All the grudges caused by the wives and mothers are forgotten and the husbands and children get united. Some of the daughters start love affairs with boys, to utilize the maximum independence in an environment without their mothers. Husbands enjoy the freedom to make merriment
In the meantime, this is also a great opportunity to cheat the husbands. A marketing agent “Nimal” selling a security alarm to “Jayasekera” in the absence of his wife.
“Wanigasekara” starts a garage using his wife’s money, which was a dream for him over a long time. “Jayasekera” who is a joyful character, gives all the goods of his grocery store to the people on a credit basis and arranges parties. Even though strange things happen, the first week without the five ladies is very interesting and entertaining for the “Sihina Pura” people. They spend the first week without any problem in a peaceful manner.
But all hell breaks loose when they receive a call from “Dambadiwa” that five wives would be returning the same evening and the drama gets more and more interesting twists and turns with this sudden call.
Scripted by Asanka Sayakkara, Suneth Warnasooriya and Chathurika Wijewardhana, camera is handled by Sujith Nishantha and art director is Asela Salgadu.
Edited by Saman Ariyaratne, make up is by Malith Gunasekara and music director of ‘Sihina Puraya’ is Kapila Pugalaarachchi.
‘Angara Dangara’ now on screen
Young actress Sachini Ayendra’s maiden film production ‘Angara Danga’ is now being screened at the Regal cinema Colombo and other CEL circuit cinemas around the country.
The maiden directorial venture of Nalin Rajapakse, ‘Angara Dangara’ is based on Viduranga Apeksha’s novel ‘Kelambunu Diya’ and is scripted by Sunil Premaratne.
The film stars Sanath Gunathilake, Roger Seneviratne, Kumara Thirimadura, Nadeeka Gunasekara, Susila Kottage, Sachini Ayendra, Shanudri Priyasad, Nilmini Kottegoda, Jeevani Nirupa Perera, Nilangani Perera, Priyanthi Perera, Alexi Fernando, Sunil Premarathne and Ranjith Ruben.
‘Angara Dangara’ is the story of Gagani the only daughter of Mr and Mrs Wikramasinghe who lives in the city in a flat. Her mother is a teacher and father a businessman. Gagani is a bit mischievous and her parents get lots of complaints from the school against her.
One day her mother gets a transfer to village far away from the city and they had to send Gagani to a hostel since she wanted to stay at the same school. Madam Jenny is the matron of the hostel and Gagani realizes that it is not a suitable place for her.
Finally Gagani's parents had to take her to the village and ‘Angara Dangara’ will unravel what will happen to this young mischievous girl.
In the technical crew Nimal Rosa has handled the camera, Henry Premaratne, the make up and Alexi Fernando the art direction.
Gihan Hasantha Galpaya edited ‘Angara Dangara’ while Wijesundara Waregoda wrote the musical score. |
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