Packed in ‘The Red Suitcase’ Nepal-Lanka fly to Venice Festival
View(s):By Susitha Fernando
Nepal-Sri Lanka co-production ‘The Red Suitcase’ selected for 80th edition of prestigious Venice Film Festival scheduled to be held from August 30 to September 9. Directed by Fidel Devkota, the film is co-produced by internationally awarded filmmaker Vimukthi Jayasundara and some of the key technicians include talented editor Saman Elvitigala and the post-production was done in Sri Lanka.“This is a good opportunity for Sri Lanka to prove that we have the talent and technology to do post-production of films in our country. Sri Lanka was popular only as a location destination and we have been promoting the country in this way,” Vikumthi said detailing the Sri Lankan contribution to the country.
‘The Red Suitcase’ also the third occasion where Sri Lanka’s name is written in the oldest and one of the leading film festivals in the world. The father of Sri Lankan cinema Dr. Lester James Peiris’ outstanding cinematic work, “Nidhanaya” was competed at the the 1972 Venice International Film Festival and won the Silver Lion of St. Mark award. Vimukthi Jayasundara’s direction “Ahasin Wetei” (Between two worlds) was the second film to compete for the ‘Golden Lion award’ at the 66th festival in 2009.
Nepali dicector Fidel Devkota
Co-produced by Ram Krishna Pokharel for ICEFALL Productions and Vimukhi Jayasundara for Film Council Productions, the film will be competed in Orizzonti Competition for first time direction and the film will also have its world premiere at Venice.
Since Indian cinema is advanced in technology we used to do the post production in India. But in this film while the sound production was done in India, image part was designed in Sri Lanka with the participation of Sri Lankan artistes,” Vimukthi said.
While studied cinema in France and worked in Europe, Vimukthi had been extensively involved in training the youngesters in the regional film loving countries like India, Nepal and the Maldives.
“I taught cinema at Film and Television Institute of India at Pune in India and Nepal and Maldives. As neighbours South Asian countries have some distinguished similarities. There are lot of cultural similarities, we carry same image and skin tone and there are many cultural connections,” Vimukthi who earlier directed ‘Chatrak’ film for India said.
Speaking about his working with filmmakers from Nepal, Vimukthi says that there is a new generation of young filmmakers who are trying to go to the world with the independent cinema. The filmmaker Devkota’s film Kangling (Bone Trumpet) had won an award at the Cannes festival.
Two Nepali films namely ‘Kalo Pothi’ and ‘Seto Surya’ had represented the Venice Film Festival and ‘The Red Suitcase’ is the third Nepali film that will be going to Italy.
Vimukthi Jayasundara
Director Devkota wrote the screenplay of the film that features artistes such as Saugat Malla, Bipin Karki, Pravin Khatiwada and Shristi Shrestha among others.
“Nepal is a special country. Culturally they are colourful and it’s the people who lives among mountains. There is a new generation of filmmakers have emerged from Nepal,” Vimukthi said.
Searching for that next furry family member but couldn’t find one in your area? Hitad.lk has the solution with our extensive listings of dogs for sale in Sri Lanka!