Cannes kudos for Young Lankan Talent
View(s):By Susitha R. Fernando
Young Sanjeewa Pushpakumara’s short film has been selected to be screened at the Short Film Corner section of the prestigious Cannes Film Festival in France from May 15-26 May.
‘Unforgiven’ is the latest short film done by Sanjeewa for the Graduate School of Advanced Imaged Science, Multimedia and Film, Chung Ang University in Seoul where he studied cinema. The film is a joint production by Sri Lankan and Korean talents.
‘Unforgiven’ is a movie revolving around a 65 years old woman who has lost all her human relations with her only daughter (37 years old – living in a separate house) since the death of her nine years 0ld granddaughter. Still her daughter thinks her mother is responsible for her kid’s death and refuses to reunite with her mother. Two Korean actresses Kim Sunmi and Ho Heeja play the role of mother and daughter.
The film is the third Korean short film made by Sanjeeewa who also had done a Sri Lankan short film. Script and direction by SanjeewaPushpakumara, the director of photography is Kim HooJoong, editor Ajith Ramanayake, sound designer Priyantha Kaluaracchi and producers are Yoon Hee Jung and Jiang Gxuan Xiao. The supervising producer is Professor Bak Ki Ung.
Meanwhile Sanjeewa was also one of the six winners of a Cinéfondation of the Cannes Film Festival Grant, back from Paris for his newest feature film ‘Dewena Vihagun’ (Burning Birds). He is to participate in the international cinema market associated with it to provide an outlet for his film.
The grant provided Sanjeewa four and a half months stay in France. His trip was devoted to the preparation of his film “Burning Birds” and to a journey through the world of French cinema. “During my stay, I went to see movies about 3 times a day on an average, mainly at the French Cinematheque,” Sanjeewa said.
‘Burning Bird’ is a film that came out scratching my heart. It looks at myself, my mother and my country, through a microscope, says the young filmmaker. “Burning Birds” follows his debut direction ‘Flying Fish’ or ‘Igilena Maluwo’ which has already won international acclaim.
Inspired by his youthful experience in his remote home town in the Eastern Sri Lanka . “Flying Fish” (Igilena maluwo), has garnered attention in the international arena, notably in France at the 33rd festival three continents of Nantes (2011) and received more than a dozen international awards including Best Director Award, New Territories Competition at St.Pertersburg International Film Festival, Best Asian Film, NETPAC award, 4th Bengaluru International Film Festival, Blue Chameleon Award, 5th CinDi IFF aka Cinema Digital International Film Festival, Seoul, South Korea, Best Asian Cinematographer (Nominated), Asian Film Awards, 2012, Hong Kong, Special Jury Mention for Red Chameleon Award, 5th CinDi IFF aka Cinema Digital International Film Festival, Seoul, South Korea, Critic’s Choice Award, 5th New Jersey South Asian Film Festival, USA and nominated at a number of IFFs.
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