"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.