Screening of ‘Flying Fish’ prompts sudden cancellation of French Film Festival
Monday, 15 July 2013 00:36
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Embassy says film screened with approval of Censor Board;
BMICH apologises to armed forces for allowing screening
The French Embassy in Colombo yesterday regretted the unfortunate circumstances and embarrassment for the partners and sponsors of its French Spring Festival and the public after local officials ordered the cancellation of the French Film Festival at the BMICH on Saturday.
The controversy arose after the movie Flying Fish or ‘Igilena Maluwo’ by film maker Sanjeewa Pushpakumara was screened at the BMICH on Friday (11 July) as part of the French Film Festival. The film had been approved for screening by the Public Performance or Censor Board, the French Embassy said, a fact corroborated in a notice published by the BMICH onsite.
“The French Film Festival organised by the French Embassy and the Alliance Francaise de Kotte at the BMICH has been suspended by the Board of Management of the Bandaranaike National Memorial Foundation with immediate effect on account of the contents of and the sentiments contained in the Sinhala film, “Igilena Maluwao” (Flying Fish) which however was certified as suitable for screening by the Public Performance Board, and screened on the 11 July in Commitee Room B of the BMICH,” the notice said.
“The Board of Management apologises to the general public and the heroic armed forces of Sri Lanka who liberated our people from the murderous scourge of terrorism for permitting such a film to be screened in their premises. They also assumed that foreign organisers of such events will always respect and honour the social, historical and cultural sensitivities of the people of the host country,” the notice said.
“The Embassy received from the Public Performances Board the certifications authorising the screening of all these movies. The conditions put to the screening of “Flying Fish”, such as its one time only presentation to a selected invited audience without children have been respected,” the French Embassy said in a statement. (DB)
