May 30, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lankan filmmaker Isuru Gunathilake has been honoured with the award for ‘Best Dance Film’ at the World Film Festival in Cannes for his film “Sheysha“.
“Sheysha,” directed by Gunathilake and written by Samantha Kumara Gamage, explores Sri Lanka’s traditional dance and the intricate relationship between a father and son.
The film portrays a ‘Gurunnanse‘ (a master of dance) and his son striving to preserve their art in a society marred by political and cultural corruption.
The narrative highlights their struggle to maintain a unique and endangered art form.
Gunathilake is no stranger to accolades. His 2020 short film, “The Vultures,” garnered the Human Rights Prize at the Agenda 14 Short Film Festival and received both a Merit Award and a Jury Award for Best Actor at the ninth Youth Film Festival.
It was also officially selected for the Jaffna International Cinema Festival.
Additionally, he has directed other notable short films including “The Circle of Life” and “The Dummy.”
The World Film Festival in Cannes, themed “Remember The Future,” conducts both monthly and annual competitions across various genres for international filmmakers.
The festival, an IMDb qualifier, celebrates feature films, short films, independent films, documentaries, experimental films, animated films, music videos, screenwriters, songwriters, singers, bands, commercials, and Web/TV series, among others.
