Lalith Rathnayake’s film Riverston has been selected as Sri Lanka’s official entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the 99th Academy Awards.
The selection was officially announced today by Sudath Mahadivulwewa, Chairman of the National Film Corporation, at a press conference.
Mahadivulwewa, who also chairs the Sri Lanka National Oscar Selection Committee, said the selection was made in accordance with the new regulations introduced by the Academy. The regulations place particular emphasis on the approval of the national selection committee and the professional qualifications of its members.
He said this marks the first time a Sri Lankan film selected through such a formal and regulated process has been submitted for consideration at the Academy Awards.
The National Oscar Selection Committee comprised industry professionals including filmmakers Asoka Handagama, Ravindra Guruge, Anoma Rajakaruna, and Visakesa Chandrasekaram; film critic Aruna Gunaratne; musician Lakshman Joseph de Saram; and film festival organiser Uditha Lakmal Kahandawa Arachchi.
The committee considered six films for the selection, including five Sinhala-language films and one Tamil-language film.
