‘Demons in Paradise’ paused

Friday, 5 October 2018 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The screening of the film ‘Demons in Paradise’ scheduled for the Jaffna International film festival has been cancelled by the organisers without due explanation.

The director of the film, Jude Ratnam, accuses the organisers for allegedly owning to pressure from the community in Jaffna and removing his film from the list of films scheduled to be screened at the festival.

Ratnam had sent a letter to the Festival Director Anomaa Rajakaruna, demanding an explanation for this sudden action, because he believes it reflects as a case of censorship and an infringement on the fundamental rights to freedom of expression.

The letter states that a visit had been made by a group of individuals to the Festival Committee Chair Dr. D. S. Raguram, insisting the film Demons in Paradise be removed from the schedule to which the festival organisers has complied to.

The film had been initially invited to be screened at the festival and the director of the film had taken due steps to provide the organisers with all that was requested prior to the screening. The decision to remove this film has taken place after publicity has been given through the festival website of its screening and Ratnam questions the reliability of the sources that led to the cancellation of the screening.

‘Demons in Paradise’ has been premiered as part of the official selection at the Festival de Cannes in 2017 where it had been nominated for Camera d’or (Golden Camera) and L’oiel d’or (Golden Eye) awards. Since premiering in Cannes, the film has travelled to many film festivals around the globe and has further won several other awards. (RG)