A microscopic view on post-war North
Sumathy Sivomohan
Filmmaker and academic Prof. Sumathy Sivamohan’s latest film ‘The Single Tumbler’ won the Best International Film award at the Cinemaking International Film Festival (CIFF) at Dhaka in Bangladesh recently.
The film competed with highly acclaimed films like “I Father” by Mark Norfolk (UK-Kosovo), Antardwani (India) and number of other award winning films.
Set in the post-war Sri Lanka ‘The Single Tumbler’ is a recuperation of life lived in pain and betrayal, seeking reconciliation, affirmation and hope.
At the three-day festival from December 24-26 , ‘A biography of Nazrul’ directed by Ferdous Khan bagged ‘Best Bangladeshi Full-length film’ award.
CIFF founder and Festival Director Monjurul Islam Megh said more than 150 films from 54 countries and 27 films from Bangladesh had been selected for the competition in 11 categories at this festival. Among them, 17 international films won awards from eight competition categories.
Ten international best awards were given in the main competition section for International Feature film Competition.
“Girl and the Sea” directed by Azizzhan Zairov and Mukhamed Mamyrbekov from Kazakhstan were announced as Best Asian film while Apurba Kishor Bir won Best Asian director for “Antardhwani” from India.
Single Tumbler film
“I’Father’, directed by Mark Norfolk from Kosovo was selected as Best European Film while Gultekin Bayir bagged Best European Director for “Bir Denizcinin Dogum Gunu” from Turkey.
Yashpal Sharma for acting in the “Mooso the Mouse” and Swapna Pati for acting in the “Antardhwani” from India were awarded as Best International Actor and Best International Actress respectively.
“The Final Code” from Italy won the Best Original Score while Best Cinematography for “Boluomi” from Taiwan and Best Screenplay for “Colorless Dreams” from Uzbekistan were announced in the competition.
“Endless Walk” directed by Yan Paing Htum from Myanmar bagged the title of Best international mobile film while Best Bangladeshi mobile was film “Mother” directed by Anondo Khaled.
“The Fiber” directed Nubelia Leyva Ferrer and Sorangel Solano Clever from Cuba gained the title of Best International Short film while the festival announced Best Bangladeshi short film “Separation” directed by Aparajita Sangita.
Best International Documentary were “A Gift from God” directed by Jorgen Lorentzen, Nafise Ozkal Lorentzen from Norway while Best International Kids award were achieved by Filmmaker Sandro Kintsureshvili for “Take It” from Georgia.
The festitival was organised by Dhaka Festival while Festival Partner was Mashud moncho and Rushda Film.
Meanwhile ‘The Single Tumbler’ is to be screened online at Jaipur International Film Festival, on January 19 and at Imagine India, International Film Festival in May this year.
The war between the Sri Lankan armed forces and the Tamil separatist Tigers is over. Lalitha returns to Sri Lanka, to the family she left behind in a time of great turbulence. Memories are hard and bitter. Why does mother cling to the single tumbler? Did Fatima curse them, when the Muslims were evicted by the militants? Why did Jude the brother disappear? What secrets do Jessie and Anthony hide? The Single Tumbler.
Winners of Cinemaking International Film Festival (CIFF)
“The film is an inward glance; a close intimate glance at northern Tamil society in Sri Lanka, at a time of crisis of identity. It is made from within by its class, gender and ethnic persuasions. I look at my own home, family, community and nation, through the lens of displacement. I look at post war Sri Lanka, haunted by its past. Tamils suffered in the war, but they were also complicit in turning a blind eye to injustices committed in their name. This is a sensitive issue. One needs to tackle this without judgement,” says Prof. Sivamohan describing her cinematic venture.