Galle Film Festival - Sri Lanka's International Film Fest from 2 - 6 December Featuring Local, South Asian Works

29th October 2009, www.hollywoodreporter.com, By Nyay Bhushan, NEW DELHI

Sri Lanka will host the second Galle Film Festival from December 2-6 in the eponymous host town.

GFF is presented in association with the National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka and Sri Lanka Tourism and will open with Sri Lankan director Vimukthi Jayasundera’s "Ahasin Wetei," which was in competition at this year's Venice Film Festival. GFF is a non-competitive festival and hence won't include a jury.
In addition to promoting tourism and film opportunites in the country, GFF's main focus will be on Sri Lankan and South Asian cinema with participating films including, among others, India's “Firaaq” from actress and director Nandita Das. Further programming details are being finalized.

As part of its schedule of fundraisers, event galas and workshops, GFF will include “Shooting For Change” which will include documentaries designed to inspire social change. Also featured will be eight short films produced in August during a 10-day film camp for children, hosted by the U.S. Embassy in Sri Lanka and run by American acting coach Constance Tillotsonm with Sri Lankan directors Anoma Rajakaruna and Kasinathar Gnanadas. The 40 participating children came from post-war Sri Lanka's different ethnic backgrounds.