Business magnates at IIFA workshops

Ruwini JAYAWARDANA

Renowned Indian Business magnates and iconic filmmakers will take part in a film workshop and Business forum that will be held on June 4 as part of the Videocon IIFA Weekend.

The film workshop comes in two sessions. The session for film students, budding filmmakers and actors will take place from 9.30 am to 11.30 am while the second session, a discussion between industry personnel of Sri Lankan and Indian directors and producers will take place from 11.30 am to 2 pm. Ceylon Continental hotel is the official venue host.

The students workshop will be conducted by a director and producer who have been nominated for the Best Film Category at the Micromax IIFA Awards. Art of filmmaking and acting techniques will be discussed. A popular Indian actor and actress will also be present.

Actors Malani Fonseka, Ravindra Randeniya, Jackson Anthony, Sanath Gunatilleke and NFC Acting General Manager Nadeeka Gunasekara will comprise the Sri Lankan panel. Around 300 students will take part from some of the leading arts institutions in the island.

Sri Lanka Tourism have invited Colombo University, Kelaniya University, the the Institute of Visual and Performing Arts, the Institute of Media and Management, theatre and drama schools and all the leading schools in Colombo to nominate 20 to 30 students from their institutions.

Anyone interested can contact Sri Lanka Tourism and make a request to take part in the workshop.

Some Indian artistes, mainly directors and producers, will discuss on topics like cost effective co-production, marketing and promoting films and promoting Sri Lanka as a film location with local filmmakers in the second session of the workshop.

Around 150 Sri Lankan directors chosen by a sub committee comprising Ravindra Randeniya, Jackson Anthony, Sanath Gunatilleke and former NFC Chairman Jayantha Dharmadasa will take part.

The Business forum will take place at Colombo Hilton’s Grand Ballroom from 9 am to 1 pm. Several speakers from India and delegates from the Federation of India Chambers of Commerce and Industry, India (FICCI) and Wizcraft will attend the event along with CEOs, Chairmen and high level businessmen from Delhi, Mumbai and some of the other major cities of India.

The Business forum is made up of the inaugural, discussions on Building an economic partnership between India and Sri Lanka, Investing and rebuilding the new Sri Lanka North and East, India Sri Lanka and the future of cricketainment and the conclusion. The forum is moderated by CNBC and will be telecast over 56 countries via CNBC, CNN and IBN.

Leading Sri Lankan businessmen such as Mahesh Amaleen, Sureka Sellahewa (Colombo Stock Exchange CEO), Kosala Wickramanayake (Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry Sri Lanka (FCCISL President) and many others will take part.

The event will be hosted by Wizcraft, Sri Lanka Tourism Bureau together with FICCI, FCCISL and Ranjith Page (Cargills Managing Director).