Cinema braving against pandemic
JaffnaICF Director Anomaa Rajakarunaa
Braving all odds including deadly pandemic, the 6th Jaffna International Cinema Festival started last week with a completely novel format. Conducted in different staged the festival started on the Christmas day, December 25 will go on till March 25, with public screenings, online screening, master classes and with travelling festivals. Kudos to independent cinema, when cinemas are closed all around the world and here in Sri Lanka authorities and theatre owners are struggling to back the industry in a backdrop where large number of cinema halls are closing down. “We want to make sure the continuation of the festival and to keep the festival alive, we have kept the festival schedule opened for three months,” said JaffnaICF Director Anomaa Rajakarunaa. The first phase of the festival maintaining the health guidelines provided by health authorities was held at Kalam, Jaffna from December 26 to 31.
The Festival consists of physical screenings, online streaming and a part of the festival will travel to different parts of the country in 2021.
The festival was kicked off recognising the contribution made by veteran writer, cinema enthusiast and expert and scholar K. S. Sivakumaran. “We opened the 6th JICF presenting the Lifetime Achievement Award to Mr. Sivakumaran,” the Festival Director. “Monitoring the situation in the country and keeping with safety and health guidelines provided by the authorities we will present the festival as separate programmes during the next 3 months. Jury process is in progress to select the best debut film and International and National short films.” She stated.
Ahaa Re
“In a life’s challenging situations like deadly pandemic, cultural balance is affected. While facing the new normal and how to continue the cultural life is important. At a time like this where there are major challenges, it is important collaborate with other people and resources and conduct a festival like this,” Anomaa said.
A non-partisan platform to explore contemporary forms of creative expression in cinema, the main aim of JafnaICF is to celebrate independent cinema in the peninsula, whilst creating an understanding of other cultures, promote harmony and mutual understanding through cinema. The festival promotes and encourages young filmmakers by screenings of their debut films and short films.
Sami Blood
Ahilan Packiyanathan who conducted the Masterclass on Performing Violence_ Torture, amputation and murder in contemporary Tamil Cinema