By Susitha Fernando Competing in the main Section at the 35th Tokyo International Film Festival- Japan, Sanjeewa Pushpakumara recently won the Award for Best Artistic Contribution at the Main Competition Section- for his newest film ‘Peacock Lament’ – ‘VihangaPremaya’. Having had the World Premiere of the film in Tokyo, Sanjeewa’s film was screened throughout the [...]

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Sanjeewa Wins Award for the Best Artistic Contribution at Tokyo IFF

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By Susitha Fernando

Competing in the main Section at the 35th Tokyo International Film Festival- Japan, Sanjeewa Pushpakumara recently won the Award for Best Artistic Contribution at the Main Competition Section- for his newest film ‘Peacock Lament’ – ‘VihangaPremaya’.

Having had the World Premiere of the film in Tokyo, Sanjeewa’s film was screened throughout the festival from October 22 to November 2 to packed audiences.

‘I’m so glad about winning this award from one of the most prestigious festivals in the world, it’s a great honour. This is the first time a Sri Lankan film won such an award from TIFF. I was so happy to work with such a wonderful cast and crew, so I’m just elated” Sanjeewa told the audience after he won the award.

The film revolves around a desperate young man who takes up a job with a Colombo-based human trafficker.

After the death of his mother, Amila (Akalanka Prabhashwara) relocates his two brothers and two sisters from their village in rural East Sri Lanka to the capital of Colombo, where they set up camp in a half-built shell of a building. Struggling on a wage from a Chinese-owned construction site, Amila takes work with Malini (Sabeetha Perera), whose ‘Baby Farm’ business trafficks the infants from unwanted pregnancies to wealthy foreigners.

“I took my personal story and placed in a social political context of my country,” said Sanjeewa answering  a question raised by the audience.

“I want to make films dear to my heart,” he added. Produced by Amil Abeysundara, Suranga Handapangoda, Yuganthi Yashodara, Wathuhena Sangeetha, Nilnadee Godagama, Andrea Magnani, Chiara Barbo and Sanjeewa himself, the cinematograph by Sisikirana Paranavithana and editing by Giuseppe Leonetti.

The main cast include  Akalanka Prabhashwara, Sabeetha Perera, Dinara Punchihewa, Lorenzo Acquaviva, Mahendra Perera, Lahiru Prasath and Amiththa Weerasingha. - Photo Courtesy TIFF

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