Award-winning film director Vimakthi Jayasundara has been named the official jury member of the Berlin International Film Festival.
This is the first time a Sri Lankan has been selected to represent the official jury at the Berlin International Film Festival.
The Berlin Film Festival, which began in 1951, is being held for the 72nd time this year. This Non-Specialized Competitive Film Festival is one of the three most competitive film festivals in the world.
Earlier, Felix Premawardena (1994 Christian Jury) and Ashley Ratnavibhushana (1998-2005 Netpak Jury) represented Sri Lanka at the film festival. However, as those juries were independent juries, Vimukthi Jayasundara became the first Sri Lankan to represent the official jury.
Along with Vimukthi Jayasundara, Italian Gaia Fera and Sherbano from Afghanistan will also represent the official jury at this year’s Berlin Film Festival.
The 90-year-old Venice Film Festival, the Cannes Film Festival, which started 76 years ago, and this 72nd Berlin Film Festival are the three major film festivals in the world. Dr. Lester James Peiris was the first to make an official jury representation at one of the three major film festivals. He represented the official jury at the 1992 Cannes Film Festival.
After L. J. Peiris, award-winning film director Vimukthi Jayasundara became the first person to represent the official jury at a major film festival as well as the Berlin Film Festival.
