Film makers to combat problems in film industry

Uvindu Illeperuma

[Film Makers Guild objectives ]

* To attract producers for film making

* Importation and distribution

* Encouraging directors engaged in artistic productions

* Studying filming

* Holding local short film festivals

* Focusing on International film festivals

* Establishing a cinema culture in Sri Lanka

* Furnishing a fund for local cinema

Developing a link between Sri Lankan film directors and film producers the Film Makers Guild of Sri Lanka (an independent organization exclusively for Film producers and film directors) was announced at a press briefing at the National Film Corporation on August 11.

Somarathne Dissanayake

Renuka Balasooriya

Film Makers Guild President Somarathne Dissanayake said that “We performed our duties earlier on individual basis with no unity among us. We have now come under one banner to find answers for the problems which are common to every one in the field. Actually there are structural problems.

It is true that President contributed a lot to uplift the industry but still there are structural loopholes to be remedied. Till these loopholes are set right the industry would be in a mess. In these circumstances the producers who invest their money on films cannot expect better results for what they have produced.

Because of this most producers who want to enter the field are reluctant to come forward. Some couldn’t earn even the cost they invested. Some swear that they will never invest for film production. So this is how the death knell is seen in our industry.”

He noted: “When we make films they should be screened. We have problems with film hall owners. A large portion of the income generated from our films is taken by the film hall owners. So producers are left in the lurch. This unfair distribution of the income should be rectified by the intervention of the government. Without the support of the Government we cannot come out of this deadlock.”

Film Makers Guild Secretary Renuka Balasooriya stressed that these negative trends should be rectified forthwith.

“Film halls cannot run without films produced by us. Lankan films are a must.. They cannot screen only Hollywood and Bollywood stuff,” she said.

“Our films are recognized at international level and we have bagged international awards many times. Sri Lankan identity is welcomed in international film festivals. So we cannot allow this industry to go into negligence. We need to talk to the President. We are looking forward to have a meeting with him,” Dissanayake added.

Aba film producer Justin Belagamage, expressed his despair over the situation now prevailing.

“This is not the problem of the film. This is a problem regrading the unfair distribution of the income generated from the film. I invested 900 lakhs to produce Aba. But what happened ultimately? Though the film earned the highest income which was ever earned by a film made in Sri Lanka the largest portion of income from the film has gone to the film hall owners. I’m an investor and I expect more results from what I have invested. I will never invest for a film if this vicious ways of income distribution is corrected. Without the intervention of the government it is not possible to solve the ills within the industry,” he pointed out.