The Kandy International Film Festival (KIFF), the first international film festival to be held in Sri Lanka successfully came to an end yesterday, after five days of celebrating global cinema.
 “We are very happy about the turnover. There was much promotion and it was a new concept” said Samuel Holt, KIFF co-founder and director.
Sri Lankan actress Malini Fonseka who was presented with the award for Outstanding Achievement in film for her exceptional contribution to Sri Lankan cinema stated that KIFF was a landmark event in the history of the Sri Lankan film industry. She said that KIFF will open new avenues and opportunities for the Sri Lankan youth. “This is a very good sign. This event will go to the international arena. The small weaknesses we see now will be amended in the future with better organization and sponsorship, she said.
| Samuel Holt, KIFF co-founder and director |
Adding his views, internationally-acclaimed Sri Lankan filmmaker and producer Prasanna Vithanage interpreted KIFF as “an eye-opener”. “I believe in film culture. Cinema is an international medium that encourages interaction. Definitely this will help the Sri Lankan film industry to nourish”. He also said that it is a small step that will initiate a long journey, “It is a good investment that will widen the horizons of the Sri Lankan cinema”.
Asked about the significance of an international film festival to be held in Sri Lanka for the first time, he said, “First I was a little skeptical about this. But now I see it. It should be like this.” This should be made an annual event, he noted.
Commenting on the environment that facilitated a festival of this kind, Mr. Holt said that without the conflict being over, it might have been impossible to organize an international event like this. “This would not have been possible in a war environment. Bringing international people here would have been difficult”, he mentioned.
A similar view was held by Mrs. Fonseka. “An event on this scale was impossible before the conflict was over. Bringing foreigners to Sri Lanka was very risky. Without any doubt, the main driving force behind this event is the existing peaceful environment in Sri Lanka”, she stressed.
KIFF, which was conceptualized with the objective of showcasing the Sri Lankan identity in cinema while promoting inter-cultural harmony had an impressive film lineup to its credit. An array of films including features, documentaries and short films from countries such as France, India, Thailand, USA and UK were screened. The Sri Lankan film category was represented by the work by both experienced filmmakers and newcomers. The Sri Lankan premiere of Vimukthi Jayasundara’s Ahasin Wetei (Between Two Worlds) and the screening of Prasanna Vithanage’s Aagayaa Pookal, the Tamil-dubbed version of Akasa Kusum were notable events.
| Audience at the Open Air Theatre, University of Peradeniya |
Apart from screenings, the five-day festival consisted of panel discussions with the directors and workshops, which attracted many film enthusiasts and students. The events were held at three venues: the Kandy City Centre, the Open Air Theatre at the University of Peradeniya, and Sigiri Theatre, Katugastota.
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