Rotterdam film fest, a major support for Lankan cinema
View(s):The International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) in the Netherlands has been an important platform for many a Sri Lankan filmmakers to compete and screen their directions and provide production support. With it’s over 40 years of experience, now recognised as one of the major film festivals in the world, Sri Lankan cinema and many of its promising cinema talents have often been highlights or discovered at the IFFR.
As budding filmmaker Vimukthi Jayasundara’s script for his maiden film ‘Sulanga Enu Pinisa’ was awarded Prince Claus Film Grant Award for the best Cine Mart project in 2004 and in 2011 another young filmmaker Sanjeewa Pushpakumara’s maiden film ‘Igilena Maaluwo’ (Flying Fish) was produced with the financial support of the Hubert Bals Fund of the and it made its world premiere as part of festival’s Tiger Awards Competition. Earlier Prasanna Vithanage’s ‘Ira Mediyama’ (August Sun) and Satyajith Maitipe’s ‘Boradiya Poluna were screened at the festival.
IFFR actively supports new and adventurous filmmaking talent through its co-production market CineMart, its Hubert Bals Fund, Rotterdam Lab and other Industry activities. One of the largest audience and industry-driven film festivals in the world, IFFR has been a meeting place for filmmakers, producers, artistes, promoters, distributors and lovers of cinema. The festival’s Official Selection includes some 220 feature films and 320 short films out of 60 countries. Inaugurated on June 28, 1972, the IFFR is an initiative of the Rotterdam Arts Foundation, Film International (later IFFR) showcased films purchased for distribution to the newly established circuit of art house cinemas in the Netherlands.