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Private film distributors come out strongly against allegations

Private film distributors came out strongly against allegations that their organisation had a hand in the ejection of the film " Arumosam Wehi (Fancy Rains) from public screening whilst squarely laying the blame with the State Film Corporation for the fiasco.

The off-screen drama erupted when Director of the film Priyantha Colombage charged that his film was taken off the screen allegedly with the connivance of some unscrupulous groups who wanted their own X-rated English movie screened instead.

President of the Film Producers Guild, Dilman Jayaratne told the media that it was the National Film Corporation(NFC) that should take the responsibility for the unsuccessful screening of the film " Arumosam Wehi (Fancy Rains) which was later withdrawn by its Director.

"There are allegations levelled against those involved in the film distribution in general due to the withdrawal of this film from public screening. We must put the record straight. It was a film produced by the NFC, screened in the NFC's circuit and also removed by the Corporation itself replacing it with an X-rated film which was imported by the Corporation. We have nothing to do with it." added Jayaratne.

He was addressing a press conference convened by the Film Producers Guild, Film Exhibitors Association and Film Distributors Association last Friday.

Jayaratne said just producing a film would not help to achieve success." You have to market it and at the same time it should appeal to the public. If the people reject it what can we do."

He said today cinema exhibitors require a minimum of 30 per cent occupancy level in order to breakeven." But this film has attracted less than ten per cent especially at the Awissawela cinema where it was replaced with an English film. Therefore, due to high operational costs and staff commitments, cinema owners are unable to continue with such a low occupancy level." Jayaratne who criticised the role played by the NFC said it was the corporation which should take full responsibility for the present down-turn of the film industry.

He said in fact the cinema owners cannot remove a film from screening as it is compulsory to inform the NFC. " In this instance also, the concerned cinemas have notified the NFC about the poor attendance for this film."

Referring to recent debates that the privatised cinema circuit owners have not produced new films, Film Distributors Association President Imithiaz Cader said " We are also ready to make new films. But where are we going to screen them. Firstly the cinemas have to be upgraded. At the moment we are doing that." Secretary of the Film Producers Guild Sunil T. Fernando said the director of Arumosam Wehi should prove how he spent the funds obtained from the NFC for this film."

He must disclose how he spent a sum of Rs nine million for this film." Contacted by the Daily News film director Priyantha Colombage said he is ever prepared to show the budget of the film." Every cent spent for this film has been used in a productive manner and I have already presented accounts for Rs five million which was released by the NFC for making the film. The balance money was for publicity and for printing more copies but that money did not come directly to me and I just singed the agreements. We can also present accounts for that," he said.

Priyantha alleged that he was forced to withdraw his film due to the activities of some uncruplous groups." I had to withdraw the film within several days of commencing public screening. It is generally acknowledged that it takes at least two weeks to " pick-up " this kind of family movies at cinemas. Earlier, the Corporation had a rule which allows two weeks for a film to determine its success."

Meanwhile, Film Corporation Chairman Jayantha Dharmadasa denied claims by the Film Producers Guild, Film Distributors Association and Film Exhibitors Association. "I took every effort to keep this film running even by offering my personal funds to maintain the average attendance, but everything was in vain," he lamented.

Dharmadasa said even though the Corporation has a separate circuit, the Corporation does not own a single cinema." They are owned by individuals."

Dharmadasa said he received a letter from a cinema-goer complaining that a certain cinema in Colombo had cancelled several screenings despite the fact that there were large crowds for this film.

"I am now discussing this grave issue with the artistes and others involved in the industry in order to ensure justice," he added.

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