Anomaa’s short films goes to Hanoi
Two Sri Lankan short films directed by Anomaa Rajakaruna have been selected for the 6th Hanoi International Film Festival (HANIFF VI) which will be held from November 8 to November 12.
It will be the International Premiere of short films ‘Forward Drive’ (20:42/ 2021/Sri Lanka) and ‘The Outcast’ (13:37 /2021/Sri Lanka). The Hanoi International Film Festival is a bi-annual film festival held in the city of Hanoi, Vietnam. The festival is organised by Vietnam’s Cinema Department under the patronage of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam.
Anomaa’s short film ‘Forward Drive’ will compete in the International Short Film Competition of HANIFF VI and her Tamil language short film ‘The Outcast’ will be screened at the World Panorama of the festival. These two short films are from a series of four short films Anomaa directed recently on LGBT+ community in Sri Lanka themed “Somewhere in Sri Lanka...”presented by the Westminster Foundation for Democracy.
‘Forward Drive’ focuses on a wellknown cricketer’s sexual orientation which becomes a hot topic in social media. The cricketer tries to isolate from his team mates, friends and family. He becomes suspicious of his partner and a popular singer who lives next-door tries to reconcile them. Finally the cricketer’s mother arrives at his home and meets his partner for the first time. Well-known actors Poojana Dandeniya and Pasan Ranaweera play the leading roles in ‘Forward Drive’. Sammanlee Fonseka, Narada Bakmeewewa, Suranga Ranawaka and Imitha Jayakody play the supporting characters.
‘The Outcast’ focuses on an actor who plays the female lead in traditional koottu theatre in Northern Sri Lanka who shares his life story with a female documentary filmmaker. After realising the life difficulties he faces within the family and society due to his sexual orientation, the journalist offers to help the actor to find a transit home as a way of escape. He refuses her help insisting he should try to survive in his own environment because his struggle is not an individual struggle. Rasiah Dhanarajh and Navayuga Kugarajah play the main leading roles and the supporting cast is Julieana Johnphilip, S. Ragaventhan, S. Usanthan, S. Mathusan and U. Jathusan.
Director of Photography for both films are SameeraWeerasekera, editor - SamanAlvitigala, sound recordist PriyanthaPerera, music ChinthakaJayakody, colouristDininduJagoda and make up MadaraGodage. ‘Forward Drive’ screenplay is by KaushalyaPathirana and ‘The Outcast’ screenplay is by Anomaa Rajakaruna.