Award winners of SIGNIS 2018 with their awards. Pictures by Sarath Peries. Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith lighting the oil lamp Best film actor – Jackson Anthony CHANNA BANDARA WIJEKOON tures. The youth must indulge in redibility and filmmaking by adhering to their innovation individual philosophies. Yet are endemic their thinking processes should attributes of be updated constantly in line SIGNIS Salu- with old traits of botanical cul- Ctation Tele -Cinema ture. On scientifically grasping Awards. The authentici- these facts with knowledge SIGNIS 2018 SURPASSES GRANDEUR ty of SIGNIS awards updating, our contemporary Best film actress – Samanalee Fonseka (Premaya Nam) has been endorsed by filmmakers could make films all Sri Lankans includ- with an international appeal”, ing the cinema fraterni- said Jackson. ty. He added, “Cinema being one The 41st edition of SIGNIS attribute of the big picture of awards staged at the BMICH on culture too has a world map. We August 25 surpassed mere splen- identify cultural diversity in cin- dour to bring fresh hopes to the ema as American cinema, Indian local cinema. cinema, French cinema, Iranian SIGNIS 2018 was championed cinema, and so forth and so on. by Rev Fr Lal Pushpadewa Fer- We further subdivide more het- nando OMI, President - SIGNIS erogeneous segments in world Sri Lanka and Media Spokesper- cinema culture as regional and son for the Catholic Church Sri linguistic. For example, we Lanka. divide western cinema as Eng- The event was graced by His lish, French, German or Russian Best supporting actor (Tele-drama) Best tele-drama director – Ananda Abeynayake Best film director – Vimukthi Jayasundara Senior film actress Sumana Amarasinghe felicitated Eminence, Malcolm Cardinal cinema, emphasizing on lan- – Ananda Kumara Unnahe (Bedde Kulavamiya) (Sulanga Gini Aran) with SIGNIS International Lifetime Homage award Ranjith, Archbishop of Colombo, guage. Likewise in the world along with representatives from cinema map, Sinhala cinema still SIGNIS International. has a colour”. The theme of this year’s salu- Senior film actresses, Kanthi tation ceremony ‘The proud dis- Lanka, Sumana Amarasinghe play of youth vitality in the glob- and film conserver Tissa Nago- al motion picture discloses’ has davithana were recognized with made a platform for the young SIGNIS International Lifetime film directors of today to show- Homage awards for the yeomen case their works. services they have rendered to The significance of this year’s the sphere over the decades. program was having a short film With SIGNIS Salutation award competition under ‘Director late Fr Marcelline Jayakody was Tomorrow’ category by adhering recognized for his services to to the theme. the local cinema. Roshan Edward, Thisara Man- The Salutation award was also Best singer (Tele-drama) Special jury award – Udayakantha Best short film director gala Bandara and Fathima presented to Sanjaya Nirmal and – Indika Upamali Warnasuriya (Bandhanaya) - Roshan Edward Shanaz were adjudged the best Saranga Dissasekera for direct- three short-film directors. They ing and acting in ‘Juse Vas the have competed with over 100 Saint of our times’ film. new short-filmmakers to clinch Chanaka Perera was bestowed the awards. with the award for making the Archbishop of Colombo in his first Sri Lankan 3D animated speech said authorities should film, Gaja Man a cartoon charac- offer tax concessions to young ter created by Camillus Perera. film and teledrama directors and Jayawilal Wilegoda Commem- motivate them. orative Award to the best film Jackson Anthony in his key- critic was not presented this Best supporting actress (Tele-drama) Best supporting actress Best actress (Tele-drama) note speech made a fitting trib- time around since there has not – Chandani Seneviratne - Suranga Ranawaka (Premaya Nam) – Nadee Kammallaweera ute to upcoming youth in the been an article worthy of receiv- spheres of contemporary cinema ing the award. and television by emphasizing Jackson Anthony became the on enriching the vitality of youth best film actor in 2017 for the involved in these spheres. portrayal of his character in He said Dr Lester Peries made Dharmayuddaya while Samana- films with Sri Lankan identity lee Fonseka bagged the best that also cater to the global sce- actress award for her role in Pre- nario. maya Nam. He opined ‘Culture’ is a botan- Mahendra Perera and Nadee ical phenomenon and the ‘world kammallaweera who portrayed cultural map’ is not seen by memorable characters in 2017 many. tele-drama, Bedde Kulavamiya “Our cinema should position directed by Ananda Abeynayake itself with ‘Made in Sri Lanka’ were adjudged the best teledra- Bimsara Premaratne receiving the Best film and screenplay – Premaya Nam identity. Global village concept ma actor and actress. Best actor (Tele-drama) accolade for her creative (Kalpana Ariyawansa and Vin- Short film director (Third place), sheds light on talents galore Premaya Nam has adjudged – Mahendra Perera performance in Bedde Kulavamiya dana Ariyawansa) Fathima Shanaz shared by people in diverse cul- the best film made in 2017..