Courage and creativity of women in cinema
The Second edition of the Colombo International Women’s Film Festival (ColomboIWFF)will be held from March 15-22 with large number of film screenings, discussions and masterclass at theatres and cultures institutions around Colombo.
German Filmmaker Tatjana Turanskyj
Aparna Sen
Screening of over 50 features, documentaries and short films and other related events will be taken place at the Ceylon Theatres cinemas, National Film Corporation Cinema, Goethe-Institut and several other cultural institutions. This year festival will includes films representing 28 countries namely; Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, India, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Nepal, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Russia, Slovakia, Sri Lanka, Sweden, The Netherlands, United Kingdom and USA. Ceylon Theatres, one of the leading Exhibitors in Sri Lanka has come on board as a main partner of the festival. Both opening and closing ceremonies will be held at Regal Cinema Colombo.
British Council, Colombo announced a film project with female film makers under the banner “Female Filmmakers First” at the first ColomboIWFF and has produced 5 short films. Some of these films will be launched during this edition of the festival.
Two short film competitions, National and International for female filmmakers have been introduced this year. There will be three discussions forums from March 16-18 from 10.00 am-12.30 pm on topics related to women in cinema and women’s rights.
Award winning German Filmmaker Tatjana Turanskyj will attend the festival as juror and conduct a Master class on March 20 from 10.00am -12.30pm and some of her films will be screened during the festival as well.
This year the Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to India’s leading female filmmaker Aparna Sen. Ms. Sen, will attend the festival as her first visit to Sri Lanka. Her latest film ‘Ghawre Bairey Aaj’ (2019/India) will be screened as the closing film of the festival.
This year’s Country Focus is France.
The opening film of the festival is ‘Antigone’ by Sophie Deraspe (01: 49:00 | 2019 | Canada). ‘Antigone’ is portrait of a family in crisis, a tale of sibling loyalty, plight of desperate immigrants and justice system that is big on law and order but short on compassion. It’s a free adaptation of Sophocles’ play of the same name, which transpose characters from ancient Greece to the modern day streets of Montreal.
‘Antigone’ won the award for Best Canadian Feature at the Toronto International Film Festival 2019, where it was premiered and it was the Canadian entry to the Academy Awards for Best International Feature Film last year.
Main Partners of the festival are Ceylon Theatres, European Union Delegation in Colombo, UNFPA,
Goethe-Institut, British Council, Allianca-Francaise de Kotte, French Embassy, American Center,
Canadian High Commission, Sarasavi Bookshop, John Keells Foundation and Colombo Court Hotel and Spa.
Compiled by Susitha Fernando
