Woman’s Cinema on the Sri Lankan Silver Screen and the "Other" Female Filmmakers
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5195/cinej.2024.600Keywords:
Sri Lanka, Woman, Female, filmmaker, short filmsAbstract
Sri Lanka is a small-scale industry in the Global South. The hegemonic patriarchy of the industry, accelerated by various industrial, socio-political, and cultural matters directly affects the representation of women’s cinema in the country. This study aims to look at the female representation throughout the entire evolution of Sri Lankan women’s cinema and the state of their filmmaking practices, which is a rare study area. Further, the examination of the historical context and current trends of this paper will further seek to provide insights into the future development of the representation of women in Sri Lankan cinema.
References
Abeysekera, S. (1989). Women in Sri Lankan Cinema. Framework: The Journal of Cinema and Media, 37: 49–58. http://www.jstor.org/stable/44111678.
Asia Pacific Screen Awards. (2023). Hon Dr Malani Fonseka - Asia Pacific Screen Awards. Available from: https://www.asiapacificscreenawards.com/apsa-academy-members/hon-dr-malani-fonseka [Accessed 17 May 2023].
Big Eyes. (2021). Treasure Land - Motion Graphic Novel | Bavaneedha Loganathan. YouTube [online]. Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lo-gG_wuuJA&list=PLKV4t8NmTxlguvPwkP5IggMo7pyeeDNNW [Accessed 17 May 2023].
Berlinale Talents. (2023). Bavaneedha Loganathan [online]. Berlinale Talents. Available from: https://www.berlinale-talents.de/bt//bt/talent/bavaneedha-loganathan/profile [Accessed 4 June 2023].
Busan Asian Film School. (2023). Busan Asian Film School [online]. Available from: http://afis.ac/eng/main/IndexView.do [Accessed 17 May 2023].
Buthgumwa., M. 2022. Sri Lanka is now a video-first internet market. The Morning [online] Available from: https://themorning.lk//articles/147584 [Accessed 17 May 2023].
Ceylon Business Reporter. (2015). In Remembrance of Mrs Soma Edirisinghe. CBR. Available from: https://cbr.lk/uncategorized/remembrance-mrs-soma-edirisinghe/ [Accessed 4 June 2023].
Constable., H. (2019). Why aren’t there more women film directors?. BBC. [online] Available from: https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20191129-why-arent-there-more-women-film-directors [Accessed 31 May 2023].
Colombo Gazette. (2018). Hollywood actress Ashley Judd to visit Sri Lanka. Available from: https://colombogazette.com/2018/01/12/hollywood-actress-ashley-judd-to-visit-sri-lanka/ [Accessed 4 June 2023].
Daily News. (2015). Death of Soma Edirisinghe. Available from: https://www.dailynews.lk/2015/11/05/local/death-soma-edirisinghe [Accessed 4 June 2023].
Devana. (2022). The Limits of #MeToo in Sri Lanka. The Diplomat. Available from: https://thediplomat.com/2022/02/the-limits-of-metoo-in-sri-lanka/ [Accessed 4 June 2023].
Disanayaka, G. (2022). Female Filmmakers to Combat Gender Based Violence & Promote Women’s Rights - Colombo Telegraph. Colombo Telegraph. Available from: https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/female-filmmakers-to-combat-gender-based-violence-promote-womens-rights/ [Accessed 4 June 2023].
Dockterman, E. (2015). Here’s Why It’s So Important to Hire More Female Directors. Time. Available from: https://time.com/4087813/female-directors-study/ [Accessed 4 June 2023].
Dodangoda, N. and Hettiarachchi, S. (2019). Factors Influencing Attraction of Audience for Latest Local Movies: A Study on Filmmaking Industry In Sri Lanka. Edhat International, p.52
Editor, L.S. (2021). Sri Lankan Cinema in extinction! Now only 32 halls for the whole country. Lanka Sara. [online] Available from: https://lankasara.com/life/arts/sri-lankan-cinema-in-extinction-now-only-32-halls-for-the-whole-country/ [Accessed 4 June 2023].
Fernando, S. (2023). Najini Dikkovita - නජිනි දික්ඕවිට - Sinhala Cinema Database. Films.lk. [online] Available from: https://www.films.lk/sinhala-cinema-artist-najini-dikkovita-8788.html [Accessed 17 May 2023].
Fernando, S. (2021). ‘Open Doors’ opens maiden Regional Forum. The Sunday Times. [online] Available from: http://www.sundaytimes.lk/210509/magazine/open-doors-opens-maiden-regional-forum-442340.html [Accessed 17 May 2023].
Films.lk. (2023). Soma Edirisinghe. Sinhala Cinema Database. Available from: https://www.films.lk/ArtistDetails.php?id=776 [Accessed 4 June 2023].
Films.lk. (2023). Soniya Disanayaka - සෝනියා දිසා Sinhala Cinema Database. [online] Available from: https://films.lk/sinhala-cinema-artist-soniya-disanayaka-564.html?id=564 [Accessed 30 May 2023].
Film Producers. (2023). ProductionHUB.com. Available from: https://www.productionhub.com/directory/profiles/film-producers [Accessed 4 June 2023].
Fulford, L. and Hamilton, R.S. (2023). Canon Europe [online]. Canon Europe. Available from: https://www.canon-europe.com/pro/stories/women-in-filmmaking-debate/ [Accessed 31 May 2023].
Fernando, S. (2018). The battle continues over film distribution. The Sunday Times Sri Lanka. [online] Available from: http://www.sundaytimes.lk/180708/magazine/the-battle-continues-over-film-distribution-301162.html [Accessed 4 June 2023].
Galappathti, A. (2018). The query Sri Lanka movie catalogue. Sri Lanka: National Film Corporation. pp. 31
Gavazzi, G and Staff, M. (2022). Male Gaze and Female Objectification in Contemporary Cinema (Jacopo , Ed.). The Matthew - John Cabot University Rome Italy. Available from: https://thematthewrome.com/2022/03/15/male-gaze-and-female-objectification-in-contemporary-cinema/ [Accessed 4 June 2023].
Jayawardana, R. (2009). A golden mission for healing hearts. Daily News. Available from: http://archives.dailynews.lk/2009/10/29/fea20.asp [Accessed 4 June 2023].
Jayawardana, R. (2011). Beyond convention. Daily News. Available from: http://archives.dailynews.lk/2011/11/21/fea20.asp [Accessed 4 June 2023].
Kumarasinghe, G. (2005). Feminine beauty underexposed in Sinhala films - Geetha. Daily News. Edirisinghe,. E,. M,. G. Available from: http://archives.dailynews.lk/2005/02/16/artscop01.html [Accessed 4 June 2023].
Layne., R. (2021). Has #MeToo Changed How Hollywood Hires? Harvard Business School. Available from: http://hbswk.hbs.edu/item/has-metoo-changed-how-hollywood-hires [Accessed 4 June 2023].
Lent, J. A. (2009). Animation in South Asia. Studies in South Asian Film & Media, 1(1), 101-117. https://doi.org/10.1386/safm.1.1.101_1.
Loku Duwa. 1996. DVD. Sri Lanka.
Lowe, D. (2014). An encyclopaedic dictionary of women in early American films: 1895-1930. Routledge.
Malalagama, S. (2021). Daily Mirror. Most people think filming is not an actual job - Hard talk. Available from: https://www.dailymirror.lk/hard-talk/Most-people-think-filming-is-not-an-actual-job/334-213294 [Accessed 4 June 2023].
Nimalachandra, K.M.D. Chathurika, (2008). Trends of Sri Lankan new filmmakers in cinema, Proceedings of the Annual Research Symposium 2008, Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya, pp 69.
Padmasiri, A. (2017). මම උදව් කළ අය මට උදව් කරන්නේ නෑ. Dinamina. [online] Available from:https://www.dinamina.lk/2017/06/06/%E0%B7%80%E0%B7%92%E0%B7%81%E0%B7%9A%E0%B7%82%E0%B7%8F%E0%B6%82%E0%B6%9C/35248 [Accessed 30 May 2023].
Priyashantha, K. G., De Alwis, A. C., & Welmilla, I. (2023). Three perspectives on changing gender stereotypes. FIIB Business Review, 12(2), 120-131. https://doi.org/10.1177/2319714521104960.
Riley, S., Evans, A., & Mackiewicz, A. (2016). It’s just between girls: Negotiating the postfeminist gaze in women’s ‘looking talk’. Feminism & Psychology, 26(1), 94-113. https://doi.org/10.1177/0959353515626182.
Rea, P.W. and Irving, D. K. (2015). Producing and directing the short film and video. CRC Press.
Robinson, A. (2018). Working Notes: An overview of contemporary Sri Lankan cinema: A photographic essay. South Asian Cinemas, pp.115-131.
Selinger, A. (2004). Portraying Women as Beauvoir’s “Other”. American University. Available from: https://dra.american.edu/islandora/object/auislandora%3A10028/datastream/PDF/view#:~:text=Simone%20de%20Beauvoir%2C%20th
e%20influential,are%20the%20self%20and%20subject [Accessed 4 June 2023].
Senevirathne, S. S. A. (2017). The paradigm shift of Sri Lankan cinema: A study of reflections and repercussions in the cinema after introducing the open economy in 1977. In Bangkok Annual Business and Social Science Research Conference 2016.
Sunday Observer. (2001). Online edition of Sunday Observer - Business. Available from: https://archives.sundayobserver.lk/2002/09/29/mag06.html [Accessed 4 June 2023].
Sunday Observer. (2003). Inoka Sathyanganie: Bucking convention in life and art. Sunday Observer. https://archives.sundayobserver.lk/2003/08/17/fea15.html [Accessed 17 May 2023].
Peries, S. 2006. Sumithra in the making of another cinematic gem. (n.d.). Available from: https://www.sundaytimes.lk/061217/TV/006_17_12_2006.html [Accessed 6 Jun 2023].
The Morning. (2021). Has the time come for #MeToo to transform Sri Lanka? The Morning. Available from: https://themorning.lk//articles/147142 [Accessed 4 June 2023].
The Morning. (2023). Remembering Sri Lanka’s first female filmmaker Sumitra Peries. The Morning.: https://themorning.lk//articles/77b18S9KUnH8OOBwbHHg.
Tampoe-Hautin, V. (2011). Sumitra Peries: Sri Lankan filmmaker: poetess of Sinhala cinema. Aitken Spence Print, 2011, 9789555117722. ⟨hal-01148022⟩
The Leader. (2022). Sri Lankan director gets opportunity in Hollywood. The Leader [online] Available from: https://english.theleader.lk/entertainment/2560-sri-lankan-director-gets-opportunity-in-hollywood [Accessed 17 May 2023].
The Sunday Times. (2018). Locarno’s ‘Open Doors Hub’ explores new South Asian talents. The Sunday Times Sri Lanka. Available from: http://www.sundaytimes.lk/180812/magazine/locarnos-open-doors-hub-explores-new-south-asian-talents-305870.html [Accessed 4
June 2023].
Uvais, R. (2020). I don’t need positions to serve my cinema industry: Malini. Daily Mirror. Available from: https://www.dailymirror.lk/print/life/I-don’t-need-positions-to-serve--my-cinema-industry:-Malini/243-189626 [Accessed 4 June 2023].
Welabada, L. (2004). Sarasaviya Awards: And the verdict is... Sunday Observer [online] Available from: https://archives.sundayobserver.lk/2004/08/29/fea16.html [Accessed 17 May 2023].
Weerasinghe, A. (1989). Anoja Weerasinghe: The Star and the Actress: An Interview. Framework: The Journal of Cinema and Media, (37), 93-102. Available from: http://www.jstor.org/stable/44111682 [Accessed 4 June 2023].
Weerasooriya, S. (2022). SLT-MOBITEL Partners Evoplay; Sri Lanka’s newest digital advertising platform – The Island. Available from: http://island.lk/slt-mobitel-partners-evoplay-sri-lankas-newest-digital-advertising-platform/ [Accessed 4 June 2023].
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2024 Lanka Bandaranayake
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- The Author retains copyright in the Work, where the term “Work” shall include all digital objects that may result in subsequent electronic publication or distribution.
- Upon acceptance of the Work, the author shall grant to the Publisher the right of first publication of the Work.
- The Author shall grant to the Publisher and its agents the nonexclusive perpetual right and license to publish, archive, and make accessible the Work in whole or in part in all forms of media now or hereafter known under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License or its equivalent, which, for the avoidance of doubt, allows others to copy, distribute, and transmit the Work under the following conditions:
- Attribution—other users must attribute the Work in the manner specified by the author as indicated on the journal Web site;
- The Author is able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the nonexclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the Work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), as long as there is provided in the document an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post online a prepublication manuscript (but not the Publisher’s final formatted PDF version of the Work) in institutional repositories or on their Websites prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work. Any such posting made before acceptance and publication of the Work shall be updated upon publication to include a reference to the Publisher-assigned DOI (Digital Object Identifier) and a link to the online abstract for the final published Work in the Journal.
- Upon Publisher’s request, the Author agrees to furnish promptly to Publisher, at the Author’s own expense, written evidence of the permissions, licenses, and consents for use of third-party material included within the Work, except as determined by Publisher to be covered by the principles of Fair Use.
- The Author represents and warrants that:
- the Work is the Author’s original work;
- the Author has not transferred, and will not transfer, exclusive rights in the Work to any third party;
- the Work is not pending review or under consideration by another publisher;
- the Work has not previously been published;
- the Work contains no misrepresentation or infringement of the Work or property of other authors or third parties; and
- the Work contains no libel, invasion of privacy, or other unlawful matter.
- The Author agrees to indemnify and hold Publisher harmless from Author’s breach of the representations and warranties contained in Paragraph 6 above, as well as any claim or proceeding relating to Publisher’s use and publication of any content contained in the Work, including third-party content.
Revised 7/16/2018. Revision Description: Removed outdated link.
