The grand and prestigious Presidential Film Awards, a cherished tradition that pays tribute to the illustrious contributions of Sri Lanka’s film artists spanning an impressive 76-year legacy, is set to take centre stage on the evening of November 14 at the Mahinda Rajapaksa Nelum Pokuna Theatre.
This glittering affair will be graced by President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who will preside over the ceremony.
NFC Chairman Deepal Chandraratne
The Presidential Film Awards holds a unique and preeminent position within the local film industry, making it the most substantial event of its kind in the country. It distinguishes itself by not only honouring outstanding artists with State-sponsored awards but also presenting them with substantial cash prizes.
The National Film Corporation (NFC) is preparing for the prestigious Presidential Film Awards ceremony, driven by the vision of creating a renewed cinema culture that captivates the public interest.
This initiative has been guided by the Minister of Transport, Highways, and Mass Media, Dr. Bandula Gunawardena, who has taken various measures to advance the local film industry, and executed under the guidance of Anusha Palpita, the Secretary of the Ministry of Mass Media.
Dr. Gunawardena has issued clear instructions to the award ceremony’s organising committee to ensure that the award ceremony pays the utmost respect to both the award recipients and the participating artists.
During this year’s awards ceremony, a total of 53 awards will be presented, with cash prizes amounting to Rs. 7.1 million. These accolades will be bestowed upon films that have been carefully selected from a pool of 42 films screened during the years 2019 and 2020. (This ceremony could not be held after 2019 due to pandemic restrictions).
Ceremony
The upcoming Presidential Film Awards, marking its 20th edition, is a highly anticipated event, with the last ceremony taking place in 2019.
NFC Chairman Deepal Chandraratne said that, following a four-year hiatus and under the guidance of Minister Dr. Gunawardena, the prestigious Swarnasinha (Golden Lion) Award, an exclusive recognition given only once in a lifetime to a cinematographer in Sri Lanka, will be presented with a more substantial monetary reward compared to previous editions.
The primary objective of this award ceremony is to assess the films released for exhibition in their years and to express recognition and honour for the exceptional skills and contributions of actors and technicians in various aspects of film production.
In line with this goal, the upcoming awards ceremony will recognise 42 films, comprising 30 films screened in 2019 and an additional 12 films exhibited in 2020.
Consequently, the awards ceremony will bestow 25 main awards in total per year, distributed across 25 categories. Out of these, 19 awards will be presented in core categories including Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor and Actress, Best Cinematography, Best Lyricist, and more.
The remaining six awards encompass accolades such as Best Audience Response, Special Jury Merit Awards, Merit Awards, Pioneer Awards, Universal Fame Awards, and the prestigious once-in-a-lifetime Golden Lion Award.
The panel of jurors, composed of five academics well versed in local and global cinema, commenced their rigorous review of the films on August 20 this year.
This year’s award ceremony is sponsored by the prominent local company, Godakanda Herbals (Pvt) Ltd. The Presidential Film Awards, returning after a four-year hiatus, is seen as a positive sign for the future of Sri Lankan cinema, which continues to thrive despite the various challenges it faces under the present economic conditions.
Translated by Maneshka Borham
