The 20th Presidential Film Awards organized by the National Film Corporation (NFC) was held under the patronage of President Ranil Wickremesinghe at the Nelum Pokuna Mahinda Rajapaksa Theatre in Colombo yesterday evening. Transport, Highways and Mass Media Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardhana was the Guest of Honour.
The Presidential Film Awards started in 1979, pioneered and conceptualised by then NFC Chairman Anton Wickramasinghe.
Major awards included Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenwriter, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Cinematography, Best Music Director, Best Lyricist, Best Song, Best Playback Singer (male and female), Best Sound Designer, Best Editor, Best Art Director, Best Makeup Artist, Best Emerging Actor, Best Emerging Actor and Actress, Special Jury Award for maximum spectator responses, and Jury Merit Award.
According to National Film Corporation (NFC) Chairman Deepal Chandraratne the Pioneer Award, Swarnasinghe Award and Vishwa Keerthi Award are given to the most experienced filmmakers and filmmakers who have brought awards to Sri Lanka internationally. “Since the beginning, we have been giving substantial cash prizes along with these awards. This time we have offered more than Rs. seven million as cash prizes,” he said.
The ceremony was not held since 2019 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Godakanda Herbals Company was the sponsor of this years awards ceremony.
One of the most beloved and iconic musicians in the country Kalasoori Nanda Malini received a special award from the President at the awards ceremony.
