SAARC film festival opens screens for the 9th year

The 9th annual SAARC film festival opening ceremony was held at the National Film Corporation Cinema Hall on July 02. 

By Minnath Azeez

The 9th annual SAARC film festival opening ceremony was held at the National Film Corporation Cinema Hall on July 02. 

Organized by the SAARC cultural centre, the festival will go on till July 7, and is open to the public free of charge. 

From master films to short and feature films, the festival will screen 34 films in total from all member states of the SAARC region including Sri Lanka. 

The short and feature films screened at the festival will be awarded for the SAARC film awards as well under the categories of best feature film, best director, best actress, best actor, best short film, best screenplay, best cinematographer, best editor, best sound designer, best original source and 2 special jury awards, to be presented on the last day.

The films would be judged by a 3 panel jury consisting of Emamanual Dela Cruz from Philippines a creative personality in the local film and television industry, Milana Majar from Bosnia a journalist, screenwriter and film director and Hassan Nazer an award winning British film director from an Iranian origin. 

A special workshop would also be held for film directors and enthusiasts with renowned artists and directors from the film industry and the SAARC region, on the 5th of July at the Colombo Film and Television Academy from 10 a.m to 12 p.m. free of charge.

Prior registration with the National Film Corporation is required in order to participate at the workshop.