Birth of a cinema
Celebrating the 69th anniversary of Sri Lankan cinema and 44th anniversary of the National Film Corporation which falls on January 21, a series of events including a film festival have been organised.
Dr. Lester James Peries
This year also marks the 60th annisersary of the revolution created by pioneer filmmaker Lester James Peries by making ‘Rekhawa’, which was released as the 39th film in the Sri Lanka film history.
‘Rekhawa’ revolutionised Lankan cinema by showing and proving that Sri Lanka can create its own cinema with a Sri Lankan identity rather than copying South Indian films.
In the run up to the main event on January 21, a film festival will be held from January 17 to 20 and will screen ‘Sikuruliya’ (at 3.30 pm on Jan 17), ‘Hatharadenama Soorayo’ (at 6.30 pm on Jan 17), ‘Saravita’ (at 3.30 pm on Jan 18), ‘Rekhawa’ (at 6.30 pm on Jan 18), ‘Walmathwuwo’ (at 3.30 pm on Jan 19), ‘Thushara’ (at 6.30 pm on Jan 18) and ‘Allapu Gedara’ (at 3.30 pm on Jan 20).
A workshop on film appreciation will be conducted at 9 am on January 19. With the participation of experts on cinema, the workshop is aimed to attract the younger generation to cinema and enlighten them on the subject.
A large number of students from schools in Colombo and undergraduates from the universities are scheduled to participate at this event.
On January 21 the main event will be graced by Media Minister Gayantha Karunathillake and NFC Chairman Deepal Chandraratne and will start at 9.00am.
Paying tribute to late Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike, who created the film Corporation and launching a book ‘Jalayen Yatawu Leange Lokaya’ a book based on filmmaking by David Lean written by Pushpajith Niroshan Jayasinghe will be released.
