Film Corp. must play fair role: Buddhi

With the new change in the country’s film distribution process, veteran film producer and Sri Lanka Film Exhibitors Guild Chairman Buddhi Keerthisena said the National Film Corporation has a pivotal and responsible role to play in facilitating the release of good films.

“The film-going public of this country needs good Sinhala movies and that cannot be deprived by anybody, not even by the National Film Corporation. The film corporation must play a facilitatory role and not act in an indiscriminate manner with regard to local film distribution. We will not tolerate if the Film Corporation tries to act in a haphazard manner,” he said adding that he himself suffered due to injustices meted out to his last film production ‘Nimnayaka Hudakalawa’ directed by Boodee Keerthisena.

“We did a good film but did not get a good release by the circuits. During our previous meeting with subject Minister Sajith Premadasa, he promised us a workshop and also a monitoring / steering committee comprising film stakeholders to work alongside the Film Corporation. But now it seems the Film Corporation is working on a different line. If a directive is given by the minister with the aim of enhancing our local film industry, it should be followed. Nobody has the authority to go above the minister. I urge Minister Sajith Premadasa to use the powers vested with him to streamline the process and protect our local film industry. We are starting two new film productions. Please give us a level-playing field to continue in this industry. We have been doing this for decades for the benefit of the Sinhala cinema industry. The National Film Corporation should also encourage local filmmakers to to do good films and not only focus on its profit margin. What the Film Corporation does now is snatching a part of profits from our businesses, which is wrong,” he said.

• “The film-going public of this country needs good Sinhala movies and that cannot be deprived by anybody, not even by the National Film Corporation.”