Sanjeewa Pushpakumara (born 5 May 1977) is a Sri Lankan film director, screenwriter and producer.

Career

Pushpakumara completed a Bachelor of Arts degree at the

University of Sri Jayewardenepura The University of Sri Jayewardenepura (also known as Jayawardhanapura University or USJ; , ) is a public university in Sri Lanka. It is in Gangodawila, Nugegoda, near Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte, the country's administrative capital. It was form ...

in 2005. He pursued a diploma in filmmaking at the Sri Lanka National Film Corporation in 2006. In 2007, Pushpakumara received a scholarship from the Korean Culture and Tourism Ministry under its Cultural Partnership Initiative (CPI), to study filmmaking in the Asian Young Film Forum and also to learn

Korean Korean may refer to: People and culture * Koreans, people from the Korean peninsula or of Korean descent * Korean culture * Korean language **Korean alphabet, known as Hangul or Korean **Korean dialects **See also: North–South differences in t ...

Jeonbuk National University Jeonbuk National University (JBNU; ) is one of ten Flagship Korean National Universities founded in 1947, located in Jeonju, South Korea. Jeonbuk National University has been ranked 551–560th in the world by QS Top Universities Ranking in 2023 ...

. In 2008, he obtained a master's degree in mass communications from the

University of Kelaniya The University of Kelaniya (UoK; , ) is a public university in Sri Lanka. Just outside the municipal limits of Colombo, in the city of Kelaniya, the university has two major institutions and seven faculties. History The University of Kelaniy ...

. In 2009, Pushpakumara was selected to the Asian Film Academy of

Busan International Film Festival The Busan International Film Festival (BIFF; ), formerly the Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF), held annually in Haeundae District, Busan, South Korea, is one of the most significant film festivals in Asia. The first festival, held fro ...

. He participated in

Berlinale Talent Campus The Berlin International Film Festival (), usually called the Berlinale (), is an annual film festival held in Berlin, Germany. Founded in 1951 and originally run in June, the festival has been held every February since 1978 and is one of Europ ...

in 2012. In 2014, he obtained an advanced degree (Master of Fine Arts) in filmmaking from the

Chung-Ang University Chung-Ang University (CAU; ) is a private research university in Seoul, South Korea. The university operates two campuses: main campus located in Dongjak District, Seoul, and an additional campus in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province. CAU consists of 1 ...

in South Korea as a Korean Government Scholarship Holder (KGSP). Pushpakumara's first feature film, ''Flying Fish'' (Sinhala: ''Igillena Maluwo''), received post-production support from the

Hubert Bals Fund Hubertus Bernardus "Huub" Bals (February 3, 1937 – July 13, 1988) was the first director and creator of International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR), formerly named Film International. IFFR started small in the Calypso cinema and film theatre ' ...

of the

International Film Festival Rotterdam International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) is an annual film festival held at the end of January in various locations in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, focused on independent and experimental films. The inaugural festival took place in June 1972, ...

(IFFR). Subsequently, ''Flying Fish'' world premiered at the IFFR and was nominated for the Festival's Tiger Award. The film reflects the deep social and psychological trauma of Sri Lanka's twenty-six-year-long

civil war A civil war is a war between organized groups within the same Sovereign state, state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies.J ...

. ''Flying Fish'' garnered many accolades and the film was invited to more than thirty international film festivals around the world. In a review for the 5th Cinema Digital Seoul Film Festival, film commentator

Tony Rayns Antony Rayns (born 1948) is a British writer, commentator, film festival programmer and screenwriter. He wrote for the underground publication ''Cinema Rising'' (its name inspired by Kenneth Anger's '' Scorpio Rising'') before contributing to ...

wrote that, in Pushpakumara, "Sri Lankan Cinema has found its true modernist" and he has also described ''Flying Fish'' as "scrupulously non-partisan, deeply humane, sexually candid, coolly modernist in style and almost indecently beautiful". In 2012, Pushpakumara was invited by the

Cinéfondation La ''Cinéfondation'' is a foundation under the aegis of the Cannes Film Festival, created to inspire and support the next generation of international filmmakers. It was created in 1998 by Gilles Jacob. Since then it has developed complementary ...

of Cannes Film Festival to its Résidence programme in Paris to develop his second feature film, ''Burning Birds'' (Sinhala: ''Davena Vihagun''). The film received production support from

Doha Film Institute Doha Film Institute (DFI) is a nonprofit cultural organisation established in 2010 by Sheikha Al-Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani to support the growth of the Qatari film community and to provide funding and international networking oppo ...

and post-production support from the Hubert Bals Fund and ''Aide aux cinémas du monde'' ( CNC and

Institut français The Institut Français (; French capitalization, Institut français; "French institute") is a French public industrial and commercial organization (EPIC). Started in 1907 by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for promoting French, francophone as ...

). In 2014, the Biennale College of

Venice Film Festival The Venice Film Festival or Venice International Film Festival (, "International Exhibition of Cinematographic Art of the Venice Biennale") is an annual film festival held in Venice, Italy. It is the world's oldest film festival and one of the ...

invited Pushpakumara to Venice to develop his third film project ''Peacock Lament''. In 2019, ''Peacock Lament'' was also selected by the Nipkow Art Residence in Berlin for advance script development. In 2018, the film project ''Amma'' (Tamil: ''Mother'') won

Locarno Film Festival The Locarno International Film Festival is a major international film festival, held annually in Locarno, Switzerland. Founded in 1946, the festival screens films in various competitive and non-competitive sections, including feature-length narr ...

's Open Doors main prize. In 2019, the ''Amma'' project was also invited to Film Independent's Global Media Makers LA Residency in Los Angeles for advance script development. Currently, Pushpakumara is the designer of the course and the Course Director at Sri Lanka Film School, the country's first film school.

Filmography

Feature films

* ''When Nothing Matters'' - in development (a film about

Leonard Woolf Leonard Sidney Woolf (; – ) was a British List of political theorists, political theorist, author, publisher, and civil servant. He was married to author Virginia Woolf. As a member of the Labour Party (UK), Labour Party and the Fabian Socie ...

and his time in Ceylon) * ''Amma'' (2020) - in development (won Open Doors Project Development Grant at the 71st

, 2018) * '' Peacock Lament'' - (2022) * '' Asu'' (2021)( Director, Co- Screen writer - Sangeetha Nilnadee Godagama, Co Producer - Amil Abeysundara) * ''

Burning Birds ''Burning Birds'' (දැවෙන විහඟුන්) is a 2016 Sri Lankan adult drama film written and directed by Sanjeewa Pushpakumara and co-produced by Pushpakumara and Antonin Dedet. It stars Anoma Janadari and Samanalee Fonseka with ...

'' (Sinhala: ''Danvena Vihagun'') (2018) - Director/Writer/Producer * ''

Flying Fish The Exocoetidae are a family (biology), family of Saltwater fish, marine Actinopterygii, ray-finned fish in the order (biology), order Beloniformes, known colloquially as flying fish or flying cod. About 64 species are grouped in seven genus, ge ...

'' (Sinhala: ''Igillena Maluwo'') (2011) - Director/Writer/Producer

Short films

* ''Lotus Mother'' (2021) * ''Unforgiven'' (2012) - Writer/Director (screened at the

2013 Cannes Film Festival The 66th Cannes Film Festival took place from 15 to 26 May 2013. American filmmaker Steven Spielberg was the Jury President for the main competition. French actress Audrey Tautou hosted the opening and closing ceremonies. The French film ''Blu ...

in the Short Film Corner section) * ''An Encounter in the Woods'' (2009) - Production Designer * ''Wings to Fly'' (2008) - Director/Writer/Producer * ''Touch'' (2007) - Director/Writer/Producer

Awards and nominations

''Flying Fish'' (''Igillena Maluwo'') (2011)

* Best Director Award, New Territories Competition - Saint Petersburg International Film Festival, 2011 * Best Asian Film, NETPAC Award - 4th Bengaluru International Film Festival, 2011 * Blue Chameleon Award - 5th Cinema Digital Seoul Film Festival (CinDi), 2011 * Special Jury Mention for Red Chameleon Award - 5th Cinema Digital Seoul Film Festival (CinDi), 2011 * Critics' Choice Award - 5th New Jersey South Asian Film Festival, U.S. * Best Asian Cinematographer ''(Nominated)'' - 6th

Asian Film Awards The Asian Film Awards are presented annually by the Asian Film Awards Academy to recognise the excellence of the film professionals in the film industries of Asian cinema. History On January 29, 2007, Wilfred Wong, the Chairman of Hong Kon ...

, Hong Kong, 2012 * Tiger Award ''(Nominated)'' - 40th

, 2011 * New Directors Award ''(Nominated)'' - 37th

Seattle International Film Festival The Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF) is a film festival held annually in Seattle, Washington, United States, since 1976. It usually takes place in late May and/or early June. It is one of the largest festivals in the world, and feature ...

, 2011 * Lino Micciche Award ''(Nominated)'' - 47th Mostra internazionale del Nuovo Cinema di Pesaro (Pesaro Film Festival), 2011 * Silesian Film Award ''(Nominated)'' - Ars Independent Film Festival, Katowice, 2011 * Best Film ''(Nominated)'' - 12th

Tokyo FILMeX TOKYO FILMeX (東京フィルメックス) is an international film festival established in 2000. History The film festival was launched by Office Kitano, the agency and production company co-founded by leading actor-filmmaker Takeshi Kitan ...

, 2011 * ''La Montgolfière d'or'' Award ''(Nominated)'' - 34th Festival des 3 Continents, Nantes, 2012 * Fipresci Prize ''(Nominated)'' - 36th

Hong Kong International Film Festival The Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF) is one of Asia's oldest international film festivals. Founded in 1976, the festival features different movies and filmmakers from different countries, and takes place in Hong Kong. HKIFF screens ...

, 2012 * Signis Award ''(Nominated)'' - 36th

, 2012

''Burning Birds'' (''Davena Vihagun'') (2018)

* Grand Prix Fiction and Human Rights ''(Winner)'' - 15th International Film Festival and Forum on Human Rights (FIFDH), Geneva, 2017 * Youth Jury Award ''(Winner)'' - 15th International Film Festival and Forum on Human Rights (FIFDH), Geneva, 2017 * Special Jury Prize/2nd Prize ''(Winner)'' - 17th

, 2016 * Best Film ''(Nominated)'' - 21st

(New Currents Competition), 2016 * The Ingmar Bergman Award ''(Nominated)'' - 40th

Göteborg Film Festival Göteborg Film Festival (GFF), formerly Göteborg International Film Festival (GIFF), known in English as the Gothenburg Film Festival, formerly Gothenburg International Film Festival, is an annual film festival in Gothenburg, Sweden and the large ...

(Ingmar Bergman Competition), 2017 * Best Film ''(Nominated)'' - 27th African, Asian and Latin American Film Festival (FESCAAAL), Milan, 2017 * Best Film ''(Nominated)'' - 32nd Valencia International Film Festival, 2017 * Best Film ''(Nominated)'' - 14th ANONIMUL International Independent Film Festival, Romania, 2017 * Best Actress - 3rd Asian World Film Festival, Los Angeles, 2017 * Netpac and Geber Awards ''(Nominated)'' - 12th Jogja-NETPAC Asian Film Festival, Indonesia, 2017

Bibliography

* ''Athmabadda Cinema Rupa – Prasanna Vithanage's Cinema'' (2007) * ''Jump Cut Ekak (A Jump Cut): Cinema from Sky to Earth'' (2008) * ''Korean Cinema and

Kim Ki-duk Kim Ki-duk ( ; 20 December 196011 December 2020) was a South Korean film director and screenwriter, noted for his Idiosyncrasy, idiosyncratic Art film, art-house cinematic works. His films have received many distinctions in the festival circuit ...

's Film Language'' (2009)

References

External links

''Flying Fish'' official site

Festival Scope profile

IFFR Director Profile

Tiger Award Spotlight: Flying Fish
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pushpakumara, Sanjeewa Sri Lankan film directors Sri Lankan film producers Sri Lankan screenwriters Alumni of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura 1977 births Living people