SAFF honours Lester and highlights Lanka

The national icon of film-making, Dr. Lester James Peiris will be hounoured for his lifelong contribution to the Sri Lankan film industry and to world cinema at this years South Asian Film Festival starting this week.

Organised by the South Asia Foundation in collaboration with the Indian Council of Cultural Relations and the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, Sri Lanka with its long tradition of film-making and its vibrant industry will be the focus country of the Festival held during October 24 and 30. The festival would have a Retrospective of Dr. Lester James Peries in addition to some of the other representations made from Sri Lanka. Sudath Devapriya's 'Udugan Yamaya' (Against the Tide), Enoka Satyangini's 'Sulang Kirilli (Wind Bird), Asoka Handagama's 'Akkshraya' (Letter of Fire), Boodi .Keerthisena's 'Milla Soya' and Satyajit Maitipe's 'Boradiya Pokuna'(Lotus Pond). Dr. Peries had been invited to participat at the festival.

‘This representative participation by Sri Lankan films will underscore the strong links between the Indian and Sri Lankan film industries and enhance the recognition in India for Sri Lankan films which started decades ago when at the very first International Film Festival held in India, a Sri Lankan film won the best film award’ said filmmaker Rahul Barua, the Secretary General of the SAFF.

"The festival would showcase different kinds of work under various segments; provide opportunities and a forum to filmmakers from SAARC countries to discuss their work; create platforms for exchange of creative and technical expertise in film-making between participants; ensure participation of policy planners and opinion leaders; and facilitate marketing of all types of films from the countries within the region," said Mr. Barua.

"The idea is to ensure that the emergence of Indian cinema in the global scenario is treated as an opportunity and not as threat to develop a niche of their own in South Asian Countries," the SAFF Secretary added.

Mainstream cinema from India and other South Asian countries-Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal and Pakistan are going to be screened during the festival. A two day seminar with the filmmakers of all the SAARC countries will be a highlight of the event where trade and business opportunity, people to people interaction at various level and role of cinema in promoting peace and harmony will be debated.

Many prominent film-makers and film personalities from India and the region would be participating in this initiative. The other theme of the Seminar is "Trends in Indian Cinema; Implications for South Asia".