Presidential Awards at last

The much awaited 'Presidential Film Award's ceremony for the years 2005 and 2006 will be held on January 30 at 6 pm at the BMICH.

The country's foremost event to recognise talent in cinema, this year's celebration will be held with the participation of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Speaker W. G. M. Lokubandara and several cabinet ministers.

Fifteen films are in contention for the year 2005 while eighteen are listed for 2006. The jury will be headed by veteran filmmaker Dr. D. B. Nihalsinghe with a number of veteran film personalities to assist him.

'Coinciding with the 35th anniversary of the National Film Corporation, the Presidential Film Awards Ceremony under the theme 'new cinema for a new Sri Lanka' is to be held with pomp and pageantry.

"The organising parties had decided to double the monetary rewards given to the winners," said the NFC Chairman Ashoka Serasinghe.

A scene from ‘Guerilla Marketing’

Organised by the NFC in collaboration with the Presidential Secretariat and the Ministry of Cultural Affairs this year's award ceremony is sponsored by the National Savings Bank.

During the press conference held to brief the media about new projects started for the development of the NFC, the Chairman made an open appeal to all television stations to refrain from telecasting too many films on the miniscreen. ‘This would minimise attracting filmgoers to big screen,’ Mr. Serasinghe stresses.

Suggesting a successful alternative NFC chairman highlighted the importance of telefilm. "This would be a good entrance for the budding filmmakers to test their talents and gain experience. While many countries have a rich telefilm industry, it is an area which our television stations have hardly bothered to take any notice.