“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.
