Short film contest on democracy | Daily News

Short film contest on democracy

The Election Commission in collaboration with the Education Ministry and the Mass Media Department of Kelaniya University has organised a short film competition and festival titled ‘Stories of Democracy’ (Paura) to create a social discourse on democracy.

Speaking to the media yesterday at the Government Information Department auditorium, Election Commission Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya said the main objective of organising this film festival and competition is to create awareness among the public of the concepts of sovereignty and universal franchise.

“By organising such an event, we also expect to join hands with artistes, young creative cinematographers, professionals, and schoolchildren as stakeholders of the Commission and produce short films on democracy as a novel concept to create awareness among the public,” Deshapriya said.

He said arrangements have also been made to conduct 22 workshops at district level from March 15-25 to create awareness among schoolchildren of the concepts of democracy, sovereignty and universal franchise and share technical knowhow in the production of short films.

Senior Lecturer at the Mass Media Department of Kelaniya University Aruna Lokuliyana said the competition will be held under two categories - Open and School.

The short films could be submitted in all three languages and the duration of the film should not exceed five minutes.

The deadline for entries is May 15.

The screening of the selected short films, reviewing, and analysis by critics and the awarding of prizes and certificates will be held on June 8, at the the National Film Corporation’s Tharanganee Cinema Hall.

Cash prizes will be awarded to the first three winners of the two categories and a certificate will be awarded all participants. (Open category: 1st place – Rs. 125,000, 2nd place – Rs. 100,000, and 3rd place – Rs. 75,000. School category: 1st place – Rs. 50,000, 2nd place – Rs. 30,000, and 3rd place –­ Rs. 20,000.)

Information Director General Nalaka Kaluwewa, Varuna Alahakoon from the Education Ministry and Darshana Senaratne from the Kelaniya University also participated in the media conference.


Add new comment