"Akasa Kusum" wins Best Asian Film in Granada

“Akasa Kusum (Flowers of the Sky),” has been jointly awarded the NETPAC Award for Best Asian Film at the third Cines del Sur Festival in Granada. “Akasa Kusum” shares the award with “Before the Burial,” by Iranian director Behnam Behzadi. It beat out films from such countries as India, China, Korea, the Palestine, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Bangladesh and Iraq at an event which took place over the weekend in Granada, Spain.

The Jury at the festival said "Akasa Kusum" was recognized 'for its strong portrayal of female characters whose lives, regrets and new beginnings are depicted in a delicate yet convincing way.' Actress Nimmi Harasgama, who attended the film's screening along with her co-star Kaushalya Fernando, accepted the award on behalf of its producers.

The film, to be released in Sri Lanka in late July 2009, won Malini Fonseka the Silver Peacock Award at the Indian International Film Festival held in Goa, for her performance as Sandhya Rani. It also won a Special Jury Mention at the Vesoul Film Festival in France earlier this year and is garnering favourable notices in the world festival circuit.

End of July Release for "Akasa Kusum" in Sri Lanka

"Akasa Kusum" will open in Sri Lankan cinemas at the end of July 2009. An exact date of release has yet to be decided, but director Prasanna Vithanage said the film will definitely see the inside of theatres at the end of July. The film will run in the CEL circuit and will play in the following 23 cinemas across the country:

1. Regal, Colombo
2. Lido, Borella
3. Metro, Nugegoda
4. National, Maharagama
5. Odeon, Mt. Lavinia
6. Contras, Dalugama
7. Naomi, Gampaha
8. Regal, Kandy
9. Milano, Kegalle
10. Regal, Negombo
11. Gemunu, Nittambuwa
12. Jeevan, Panadura
13. Sonya, Kalutara
14. Princess, Galle
15. New Cinema, Matara
16. Ratnavali, Ja-Ela
17. Jude, Kandana
18. Dulmini, Horana
19. Mahalekam, Kuliyapitiya
20. New Imperial, Kurunegala
21. Wijendra, Anuradhapura
22. Priyangi, Homagama
23. Chandra, Avissawella

The world tour of Lankan acting legend and "Akasa Kusum" leading lady Malini Fonseka will also begin at the end of July, where she will visit several countries in view of her 40th year in the film business. She will screen "Akasa Kusum" at selected stops on her tour.

Meanwhile, "Akasa Kusum" has been invited to submit itself for the 2009 Asia Pacific Screen Awards (APSA). The Nominations Council for APSA have invited the film to take part in the awards, which will be held in November this year. APSA is a cultural initiative that acclaims, at global level, the cinematic excellence and cultural diversity of the vast Asia-Pacific region and brings together, in a unique collaboration, Atlanta-based CNN International, Paris-based UNESCO and FIAPF – International Federation of Film Producers Associations.

"Akasa Kusum" Signs With American Distribution Company

Wonderphil Productions, a California-based independent film production and distribution company, has bought the worldwide distribution rights to "Akasa Kusum." However, Wonderphil does not hold the rights to the film in India and Sri Lanka. This is the first time that a Sri Lankan film has been picked up for distribution by an American company.

An agreement was signed by Sarasavi Cineru and Wonderphil in mid-April, granting the US company the rights to market and distribute the film in all territories except India and Sri Lanka. The agreement covers all media, including cinema, DVD, television and other media.

"Akasa Kusum" was seen by Wonderphil Productions' Acquisition Manager, Sanders Robinson at the Tiburon Film Festival in February, where he "thought it was very well made with impressive performances." He went to his boss, Phil Gorn, and suggested they acquire the property.

Meanwhile, plans are underway for the domestic Sri Lankan release of "Akasa Kusum" in July 2009. As reported earlier, the film will be released to 22 cinemas across the country, in the CEL Circuit.

Akasa Kusum Eyes July Release in Sri Lanka; Malani Fonseka to Embark on World Tour

On the back of a successful international film festival run, director Prasanna Vithanage and the producers of "Akasa Kusum" are planning an early July release of the film in Sri Lankan cinemas. The movie will be released in 22 centres across the country on the CEL circuit, including Regal, Colombo.

A few selected cinemas, including Regal, will run the film with English subtitles.

Following the Sri Lankan release of "Akasa Kusum," its star Malini Fonseka will embark on a world tour celebrating 45 years in the Sinhala Cinema. "Akasa Kusum," for which she won the coveted Silver Peacock Award, is her 150th film. Fonseka will be travelling across the globe, to felicitations and screenings in several countries, including the United States, UK, Italy and Australia.

Meanwhile, the new Sri Lanka trailer of "Akasa Kusum" will be released into theatres shortly. You can watch the new trailer here.

The film continues its popular run on the film festival circuit and will screen at the Persistence Resistance festival of contemporary political films in New Delhi. "Akasa Kusum" will screen in the prime time slot of 8:30 p.m. at the India International Centre on 19 April (Sunday).

Akasa Kusum to Screen at the Tiburon International Film Festival

Akasa Kusum has a prestigious US West Coast Premiere, screening at the Tiburon International Film Festival in California later this month.

The film will screen on Sunday, 22 March 2009 at 9:35 p.m. This the third time Akasa Kusum is screening in the United States. At Tiburon it will be screened along with Lucas Figueroa's 13-minute Spanish short Because There Are Things You Never Forget.

The Tiburon International Film Festival opens on 19 March with the International Premiere of Czech director Filip Renč's World War I drama Guard No. 47. The festival will feature filmmakers from over 90 countries from across the globe and concludes on 27 March.