Sri Lanka 'pressurises' Nepal to stop screening of documentaries

A film festival celebrating South Asia's best non-fiction documentaries began in Kathmandu on Thursday on a sombre note with the Sri Lankan government banning screening of three films. Utpal Parashar reports.

Updated on: Oct 4, 2013, 11:53:35 IST

Hindustan Times | By Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu

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A film festival celebrating South Asia's best non-fiction documentaries began in Kathmandu on Thursday on a sombre note with the Sri Lankan government banning screening of three films.

Organisers of Film Southasia, the biennial event showcasing documentaries of the region, claim the Sri Lankan government pressurised Nepali authorities to stop screening of all entries from the island nation.

The films in question are 'Broken' and 'The Story of One' (both directed by Kannan Arunasalam) and 'No Fire Zone' (directed by Callum Macrae).

"FSA protests this unwarranted intrusion into the cultural sphere, an action that goes against the freedom of expression and the right of documentary filmmakers to exhibit their work," stated Kanak Mani Dixit, chair of Film Southasia in a release.

'No Fire Zone' claims to be "the true story of war crimes committed at the end of the Sri Lankan civil war in 2009". It shows the Sri Lankan government's alleged role in the massacres towards end of the war.

"Once again the Sri Lankan government has shown its true colours," the film's director Macrae said in a statement while pledging to show the documentary around the world.

In protest against the Nepal government's directives to stop screening of the three documentaries the organisers stated that they would be shown outside the festival venue at a "private screening".

The documentaries will remain in contention for the festival awards.

A total of 35 documentaries from the region from eight countries including Myanmar are to be screened in the four day festival. There are 15 entries from India.

Film Southasia has been organizing documentary festivals since 1997. This is the ninth edition of the event.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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