The SAARC Film Festival 2017

The SAARC Film Festival was successfully concluded with the SAARC Film Awards at the National Film Corporation Cinema Hall on 25th November 2017.  Mrs. Rosy Senananayake, Deputy Chief of Staff to the Hon. Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, former High Commissioner to Malaysia, former Parliamentarian and State Minister of Child Development and Media figure graced the occasion as the Guest of Honour.  Film Artists of Sri Lanka from all walk of the Film Industry came to support the fellow artists of the SAARC Region and it was a gathering of luminaries and film enthusiasts.
A Panel of impartial Jury Members – Dr. Anne Demy-Geroe of Australia, Dr. Antonio Costa Valente of Portugal and Mr. Amir Masoud Soheili of Iran made the selections.  The SAARC Film Awards 2017 are as follows:

SPECIAL JURY AWARD
“For a highly accessible representation of the important themes not only of colour but of women’s perceptions of body image”
PINKY BEAUTY PARLOUR – INDIA

SPECIAL JURY AWARD – SPECIAL MENTION
“For a brave debut feature about a controversial subject in a conservative society”
FRANGIPANI – SRI LANKA

BEST SOUND DESIGNER
“For the skilful interplay between the sound and the vision in a film full of many characters and crowded locations”
RAKSHIT THANTRI (PINKY BEAUTY PARLOUR) – INDIA

BEST EDITOR
“For its role in supporting the director with smooth storytelling and focusing on the main characters in a film shot in limited locations and over a short period of time”
BHUPENDRA ADHIKARI (DYING CANDLE) – NEPAL

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
“For very effectively creating ambiance, using only existing light”
AHMAD ZIA ARASH (THE BIRD WAS NOT A BIRD) – AFGHANISTAN

SPECIAL JURY AWARD SPECIAL MENTION
“For the effective use of a range of cinematographic styles appropriate to the changes in mood”
SWAPNIL SONAWANE (TANDAAV) – INDIA

BEST SCREENPLAY
“For creating a very humanistic and coherent story combining a strong range of characters and complex interplay of moods”
TAUQUIR AHAMED (OGGATONAMA) – BANGLADESH

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
“For its restrained use of traditional music to underscore the narrative”
JASON KUNWAR (BLACK HEN) – NEPAL

BEST ACTOR
“For the delicate ensemble performances of the 3 actors to convey an in-depth portrait of a marginalised group”
DASUNA PATHIALANA, JEHAN APPUHAMI & BHOOMI HARENDRAN (FRANGIPANI) – SRI LANKA

BEST ACTRESS
“For a highly credible performance that maintained the character’s deception until the final reveal for both the other characters and the audience”
AISHATH RISHMY (VISHKA) – MALDIVES

BEST SHORT FILM
“For a subtle portrayal of poverty that used metaphor to discuss the issue of education in Afghanistan”
THE WATER – AFGHANISTAN

BEST DIRECTOR
“For the creative bridging of script and film in handling a broad range character types”
ASOKA HANDAGAMA (LET HER CRY) – SRI LANKA

BEST FILM OPEN
“For its delicate depiction of political and social issues of a particular historical era through the eyes of a young untouchable boy”
BLACK HEN – NEPAL

BEST FEATURE FILM
“For its originality and the overall excellent execution of a complex narrative”
LET HER CRY – SRI LANKA