Last Tuesday, February 6, marked the premiere of seven culturally rich short films, “Film Talents: Voices from Sri Lanka and Pakistan,” presented by the Goethe-Institut Sri Lanka.
Film Talents screening at the Goethe Institute, Colombo
Following an extensive selection process that saw over 100 applications, a distinguished jury comprising six renowned filmmakers, producers, and directors from Germany, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan carefully evaluated the submissions.
Their interdisciplinary and international perspectives facilitated the selection of ten promising filmmakers to participate in the Film Talents project commenced in 2023. Among them were two filmmakers from Pakistan and eight from Sri Lanka.
The six-month-long program, which commenced in August last year, was mentored by German Documentary Filmmaker and Film Producer, Till Passow. Alongside Passow, the program benefited from the expertise of two esteemed Sri Lankan filmmakers, Vimukthi Jayasundara and Anomaa Rajakaruna, and Curator Cornelia Klauss, promising a cross-cultural dynamic that encouraged participants to explore new creative horizons.
Left to Right: Row 01 – Fathima Shanaz, Abdullah Khan, Zeeshan Jabeer Akram, Javaria Waseem, Thamilini Sithiravadivel Row 02 – Gopi Krishna, Dinesh Balasri, Narthanie Serasinghe, Chathura Vimarsha Fernando
Throughout the program, participants engaged in two physical workshops in Sri Lanka and two online workshops, honing their filmmaking skills and developing their projects.
The ten participants, Abdullah Khan and Javaria Waseem from Pakistan, and Chathura Fernando, Dinesh Balasri, Gopi Krishna, Narthanie Serasinghe, Rinoshan Susiman, Fathima Shanaz, Thamilini Sithiravadivel, and Zeeshan AkramJabeer from Sri Lanka, presented a diverse array of narratives through their films.
Abdullah Khan’s “A Clay Horse” and Javaria Waseem’s “Alif Bay Pay (ABC)” addressed sensitive issues in Pakistan, while Narthanie Serasinghe’s “Spectral” delved into superstitious beliefs and mental health. Chathura Fernando’s “Unescaped” captures the story of a young couple planning to leave the country due to the economic recession that occurred in 2022.
Dinesh Balasri’s “Sagaravasm” and Thamilini Sithiravadivel’s “No Address” tackled post-war issues with poignant narratives, while Gopi Krishna’s “Solitude in Paradise” offered an abstract exploration of emptiness.
The premiere highlighted the power of cinema to transcend borders, languages, cultures, and distances, showcasing the diverse perspectives and creative talents of South Asian filmmakers. Through initiatives like Film Talents, the Goethe-Institut continues to foster cultural exchange and artistic collaboration, enriching the global cinematic landscape.
In a world where stories know no boundaries, these films serve as a testament to the universal language of cinema, uniting audiences through shared narratives and collective experiences.
