Dear Sir/Madam,
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
Allegedly owing to pressure from a group known only as the ‘Community’ in Jaffna, the festival organizers of the Jaffna International Cinema Festival have decided to remove the film DEMONS IN PARADISE directed by me from its scheduled program.
Thus far I have not been given a proper explanation for the removal of my film DEMONS IN PARADISE from the festival schedule.
I feel this is a case of censorship and an infringement on the fundamental rights to freedom of expression.
Herewith I’ve attached the letter (Please see attachment) written to the festival director demanding an explanation for the removal of the film from the festival schedule.
Please be kind enough to publish this news.
Thanking you,
Jude Ratnam
Writer/Director
P.S. DEMONS IN PARADISE premiered as part of the official selection at the Festival de Cannes in 2017 where it was nominated for Camera d’or (Golden Camera) and L’oiel d’or (Golden Eye).
Since premiering in Cannes the film has traveled to many film festivals around the globe and won several awards.
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01st October 2018
Anomaa Rajakaruna
Festival Director
Jaffna International Cinema Festival
Jaffna – Sri Lanka
Dear Anomaa,
Re: Removal of my film DEMONS IN PARADISE from the Jaffna International
Cinema Festival program for 2018
I am writing this following our telephone conversation a while ago, during which you
informed me about the event of a group consisting of several individuals in Jaffna who
had visited (I am not aware of the exact date) the festival Committee Chair Dr. S.
Raguram insisting him to remove the inclusion of my film DEMONS IN PARADISE
from the schedule of the festival.
I do not know the reasons behind this act and neither have I been given an explanation for
this.
My film DEMONS IN PARADISE was invited by the Jaffna International Cinema
Festival this year and the screening was scheduled for the 05th October at 18.45 at the
Majestic Cineplex Jaffna. I had provided the film to the festival with the required
technical standards, press material and with the copy of the Public Performance Board
Certificate (U -All Audience). I was going to attend the festival during the screening for
which all travel and logistical arrangements were organized by the festival itself.
The screening of the film was given publicity in the official festival website (Please see
attachment), print media (Sunday Times – Magazine – 30th September 2018) and was
widely shared on social media.
But the sudden removal of the film from the schedule (Please see attachment) and the
festivals’ decision not to screen the film comes as a surprise to me, heeding to pressure
from a group so far identified only as the ‘community’.
Worst still this comes as a shock to me that an international festival had to heed to
pressure from a group without a face only known as the ‘community’ in removing a film
that had been critically acclaimed the world over.
It raises in me the fundamental question, for whose sake films and film festivals
actually exist?
I think both the festival and I owe an explanation to the public in Jaffna and all attending
the festival for this sudden decision.
I therefore kindly request the festival to provide me with a written explanation for this,
which I feel had been an infringement on fundamental rights to freedom of expression.
I look forward to your response.
Thanking you.
Yours gratefully,
Jude Ratnam
Writer/Director
DEMONS IN PARADISE