European Film Festival 2009 strikes Colombo

Ruwini Jayawardana

A kaleidoscope of films from countries like Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom and Sri Lanka will be screened for local movie enthusiasts at the BMICH Cinema hall, British Council, Goethe Institut and the Alliance Francaise, Colombo, from November 7 to 15, 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Those who wish to sample a dose of some noteworthy movies which had broken into European cinema will get a chance to witness the films for free as the European Union member states represented in Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Norway and the co-organizer Alliance Francaise de Colombo brings the highly anticipated festival of European films to the local audience.

The films will also be subtitled in English so that there will be scope for the audience to follow the tale as it unfolds on the wide screen.

The main festival comprises nine films will unspool at the BMICH while the fringe festival which included the DVD screening of 21 movies will take place at the other three venues. A collection of short films directed by emerging young Sri Lankan filmmakers will be presented before screening each of the feature films.

Lester James Peries’ exceptional work, Gamperaliya will no doubt be one of the highlights of the event as the film had recently been restored and screened at the Cannes Film Festival 2009 under the category titled ‘Cannes Classics’.

It is indeed a triumph for the Embassy of France to have obtained one of the only two existing copies of the film. Gamperaliya will preview on the opening night, November 6 at the National film Corporation.

Speaking to the media the organizing committee of the event stated that the festival is aimed at promoting a friendly relationship and enhancing the mutual understanding between the European countries and Sri Lanka.

They emphasized that the films chosen for screening portray Europe’s multicultural backdrop. They focus on current issues and challenge the contemporary idea of what European cinema is all about.

“It is high time that we provide a venue for European cinema in the country. By organizing such a festival we are filling a much felt vacuum,” they opined. The event is organized by the Alliance Francaise de Colombo and the Embassy of france together with the Consulates of Belgiumspain and Slovak Republic, the Embassies of Switzerland, Italy, Norway, Sweden and Netherlands, the British Council, the Goethe Institut, BMICH, Cultural Affairs and National Heritage Ministry and the National Film Corporation.