‘Dada Ima’ awarded in France
Film ‘Dada ima’ (End of the Hunt) has won the Best Cinematography award at the Nice International Film Festival in France held between June 22 to 26. Renowned cinematographer Ruwan Costa won the award.
At Nice in France the film was also nominated for Best Film – in the main category out of 10 international films, Jury award – in the main category, Best original screenplay of a feature foreign language film, Best supporting actor in a foreign language film – Jackson Anthony and the Best Cinematography in a foreign language film.
“Nice was only an online festival and we sent a festival copy,” said Dr. Naomal Perera, Dada Ima director.
‘Dada Ima’ was selected to be screened online on day 1 of the festival. The audience had to purchase the password to view and attend the online festival.
‘Dada Ima’ was earlier awarded with the Golden Fox Award for the Best Debut Direction at the Calcutta International Cult Film Festival in January 2020, the Best Debut Direction at the Singapore World Film Carnival – January monthly edition 2020 and the Silver Remi award for best debut Film – Worldfest Houston International Film and Video Festival – April 2020.
The film also came up to the final round of Canadian Cinematography Awards, Canada in June 2020 and the Asian Cinematography Awards, Philippines - March 2020.
In Italy it was nominated at the Rome Independent Prisma Awards and at the Florence Film Awards in last October.
So far ‘Dada Ima’ had its Indian premiere at the Calcutta International Cult Film Festival, Singapore premiere at the Singapore World Film Carnival and the European premiere at the Nice International Film Festival in France.
“The film will also represent Sri Lanka in the competitive section at the BFI London Film Festival, Moscow Film Festival, Munich Film Festival, Fest New Director Film
Festival in Portugal and Moscow Film Festival,” said Dr. Naomal Pereram the director of ‘Dada Ima’.
‘Dada Ima’ follows award winning film Dadayama directed by Vasantha Obeysekera. The film unfolded around Rathmalie who is subjected to cheat and deceit and she is being murdered by her fiancé Priyankara who runs over her with a speeding car. The film was screened in 1985 and it won multiple awards both here and abroad. ‘Dada Ima’ begins from where ‘Dada Ima’ ends. After Rathmalie’s demise, the custody of their one-year old son (Ravinath) falls under her sister, Rohini. Rohini without disclosing the truth about his parents to Ravinath, lives with him in Europe after leaving the motherland in 1986. Her reluctance to return to Sri Lanka is governed by her fears and disgust of a haunting past of her sister’s catastrophic death.
The film stars Suwarna Mallawaarchchi, Jackson Anthony, Mahendra Perera, Akila Dhanuddara, Marion Weththasinghe, Dilmin Perera, Chandrasoma Binduhewa, Daya Tennakoon, Chinthaka Vaas, Nayana Hettiarachchi, Rajasinghe Lolluwagoda and Arun Dias Bandaranayeke. The ‘Dada ima’ is ready to be released soon at EAP circuit cinemas.