11TH AGENDA 14 SHORT FILM FESTIVAL Moulding tomorrow’s filmmakers
One of the longest running film festivals in Sri Lanka, Agenda 14 Short Film Festival completed its 11th edition last week introducing a number of new filmmakers to cinema.
With new additions, the festival recognised young talents awarding them with the Best Film, the Jury Award, Sunila Abeysekera Memorial Human Rights Prize, Most Gender Sensitive Film, Green Award, the Best Animated Short, Most Promising Filmmaker (under 24 years of age), the Best Documentary Short, Most Outstanding Performances, the Best Cinematographer and there was a special jury mention for Editing this year.
The jury with internationally renowned artistes comprised of filmmaker and academic Prof. Sivamohan Sumathy, filmmaker Sanjeewa Pushpakuamara, actress Kaushalya Fernando, cinematographer Channa Deshapriya and writer Priyan R. Wijebandara.
Pabasara Bandara and ‘Roti’ by Grason Prashanth.
The Most Gender Sensitive Film was won by Manjaree Pabasara Bandara’s ‘The Other Door’ while ‘5:59 Break the Circle’ by Nadun Nisanka Pathirage and ‘Pottu’ by Navayuga Kugarajah were nominated for the award.
The Green Award was won by ‘The Wallflower’ by Jehan Triston. The nominated films included ‘ Yellow Box’ by Rino Shanth and ‘Fly’ by Velrajah Sobanasivam.
The Best Animated Short Film was won by Nadun Nisanka Pathirage’s ‘5:59 Break the Circle’. The nominations included ‘Thaji Dias on Traditional Dance’ by Irushi Tennekoon and ‘The story of the mysterious alligator’ by Sumudu Athukorala.
The Best Documentary Short was won by ‘Nocchimunai Dharga : The final fort of co-existence’ by M. I. Jafir (Aathmaa Jafir), the Most Promising Filmmaker by Lingesh Janarthanam for ‘Jinx’, the Award for Best Cinematography was won by Madhuni Alahackone Pussewela for ‘Pettaik Kozhi Koovi’, Special Jury Mention for Editing Dulina Chandrasiri for ‘The Apartment’, Most Outstanding Performances are won by Geetha Alahakoon in ‘Peaking through’ and Bandhuka Premawardhana in ‘The Apartment’.