The awards ceremony of the Agenda 14 Short Film Festival was held on December 7 at the Goethe-Institut (German Cultural Centre) in Colombo. The festival is Sri Lanka's premier event dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the short film works of young filmmakers.
Under 12 award categories, 20 individuals including young filmmakers and actors were honoured with awards and certificates at the ceremony.
Marking its uninterrupted 15th edition this year, the festival screened 50 selected short films (chosen from submissions received from 16 districts across Sri Lanka) from December 4th to 7th at the Goethe-Institut, and from 5th to 7th at the Alliance Française de Colombo. All screening sessions recorded exceptionally high audience turnout.
Film and teledrama director and actor Jagath Manuwarna served as the Jury President this year. The other jury members were film scholar and filmmaker Athula Samarakoon, film editor Saman Alvitigala, translator and film critic Muralitharan Mauran, and filmmaker and writer Ajantha Wijewardena.
The festival's main partner is the Goethe-Institut, while the venue partner is Alliance Française de Colombo. The festival is also supported by the Embassy of France, The Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA), and The International Movement Against All Forms of Discrimination and Racism (IMADR).
The awards were presented by distinguished guests including Cécile Hoorelbeke (Director, Alliance Française de Colombo), Olivia Bellemere (Cultural Counsellor at the Embassy of France in Sri Lanka), Jan Ramesh de Saram (Cultural Programming - Goethe Institut), Stefan Winkler (Director, Goethe-Institut Sri Lanka), Dr. Nimalka Fernando (Chairperson, IMADR Asia Committee), and Markus Ruff (Head of Archival Projects at Arsenal – Institute for Film and Video Art).
Anomaa Rajakaruna, the founder and director of the Agenda 14 Short Film Festival, is a pioneering filmmaker who has dedicated many years to promoting short film as a popular and powerful medium among contemporary young creators in Sri Lanka. She is also a film curator and an internationally recognised trainer in filmmaking.
The award-winning films and their creators are as follows:
Best Short Film Nominations:
- 'High Dose' by Vishvajith Ekanayaka
- 'Stuckholm' by Nayani Narayana
- 'His First Period' by Avishka Arangalla
- 'Is Snow White?' by Sureni Ranawaka
- 'Neelum Oor Kadaisi Iravu' by Jacob Luke Jeroshan
- Award - 'Is Snow White?' by Sureni Ranawaka
- Jury Award - 'Neelum Oor Kadaisi Iravu' by Jacob Luke Jeroshan
Most Promising Filmmaker
- Kenula Pathirathna for 'Vipallasa'
Most Gender Sensitive Film Nominations:
- 'Withered Flower' by Nuzha M.W.F.
- 'Is Snow White?' by Sureni Ranawaka
- 'Unwritten Verses' by Fathima Shanaz
- Award - 'Unwritten Verses' by Fathima Shanaz
- Sunila Abeysekera Memorial Human Rights Prize Nominations:
- 'His First Period' by Avishka Arangalla
- 'Attai Kadiththathu Poga Meedhamulla Kaalgal'' by Thiyagaraja Yuwarajan
- 'Katha Karana Biththiya' by Sanduni Wanasinghe
- Award - 'Attai Kadiththathu Poga Meedhamulla Kaalgal'' by Thiyagaraja Yuwarajan
Micro Short Film Nominations:
- 'Neth's Folly' by Ginuki Jayaweera
- 'Mulveli 'by Vijarathnam Maalan
- Award - 'Neth's Folly' by Ginuki Jayaweera
Green Award Nominations:
- 'Trace' by Dinesh Balasri
- 'Right Choice' by Dimantha Ranaweera
- Award - 'Trace' by Dinesh Balasri
Best Experimental Film Nominations:
- 'Tears of Ceylon' by Viranga Pathirage
- 'His First Period' by Avishka Arangalla
- 'My Dear Fish Tank' by Poojana Dandeniya
- Award -'His First Period' by Avishka Arangalla
Outstanding Performances Awards:
- Sureshkumar Mithujan for 'Neelum Oor Kadaisi Iravu'
- Nuzha M.W.F. for 'Withered Flower'
- Special mention: Ramesh Pavithran for 'Trace'
Best Animation Nomination:
- 'Stuckholm' by Nayani Narayana
- 'Neth's Folly' by Ginuki Jayaweera
- Award: 'Stuckholm' by Nayani Narayana
Best Editor
Thamesh Malinda for 'Cold Desire'
Best Cinematographer
Viranga Pathirage for 'Tears of Ceylon'
Audience Choice Award
'Between Us' by Vinuri Vibudhana Kiriwendala
Leave your comments
Login to post a comment
Post comment as a guest