Prasanna Vithanage
Filmmaker

Sri Lankan Panadura, Western Province, Sri Lanka

Quick Info

Profession	Filmmaker
Nationality	Sri Lankan
Date of Birth	14/03/1962
Age	64 years
Birthplace	Panadura, Western Province, Sri Lanka

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Bio/Wiki

Full Name	Udaya Prasanna Vithanage
Known for	Thought-provoking films addressing social, political, and cultural issues; activism against censorship in Sri Lanka

Physical Stats & More

Eye Color	Black
Hair Color	Black

Educational Qualification(s)

School	D.S. Senanayake College, Colombo, Sri Lanka

Personal Life

Food Habit	Non-vegetarian

Relationships & More

Marital Status	Married
Wife/Spouse	Damayanthi Fonseka (Sri Lankan actress, director, producer)
Marriage Year	1991

Family

Spouse	Damayanthi Fonseka

Career

Debut as a Director	Sisila Giniganee (1992)
Debut as a Writer	Anantha Rathriya (1996)
Debut as a Producer	Pura Handa Kaluwara (1997)
Notable Works	Ira Madiyama (2003) Oba Nathuwa Oba Ekka (2012) Thundenek (2018) Paradise (2023) Dark Night of the Soul (1996) Death on a Full Moon Day (1997) Walls Within (1997) August Sun (2003) Flowers of the Sky (2008) With You, Without You (2012) Silence in the Courts (2015)
Awards & Honours	Grand Prix (Special Mention) at Le Regard d'Or – Fribourg International Film Festival (2004) FIPRESCI Award at 17th Singapore International Film Festival (2004) NETPAC Award at 17th Singapore International Film Festival (2004) Cyclo d'Or – Best Film at Vesoul International Film Festival NETPAC at Vesoul International Film Festival SIGNIS at Milano - African Asian Latin American Film Festival Kim Jiseok Award at Busan International Film Festival (2023) All main awards at Sri Lanka Film Critics Forum Awards for Dark Night of the Soul (1996)
Other Contributions	Engaged in theatre direction in the 1980s Translated and directed Bernard Shaw’s play ‘Arms and the Man’ into Sinhala Translated and directed Dario Fo’s play ‘Trumpets and Raspberries’ Produces films addressing social, political, and cultural issues Acts as a human rights and peace activist Translated and directed Dario Fo's plays 'Trumpets and Raspberries' (1991) and 'The Virtuous Burglar' and 'One Wore a Suit and One Wore Tails' (combined into 'Horu Samaga Heluwen', 2006) Produced Uberto Pasolini's 'Machan', which debuted at Venice International Film Festival (2008) Conducts Master classes for young filmmakers and enthusiasts across South Asia Battled against censorship in Sri Lanka; 'Silence in the Courts' was the first documentary feature to have a cinematic run in Sri Lanka after initial ban

Social Media

Instagram	https://www.instagram.com/prasann_vithanage/
Facebook	https://www.facebook.com/prasannavith/
YouTube	https://www.youtube.com/@prasannavithanage8686
LinkedIn	https://www.linkedin.com/in/prasanna-vithanage-422aa523/

Some Lesser Known Facts

1. Began his career as a theatre director in the 1980s.
2. Successfully translated Bernard Shaw’s and Dario Fo’s plays into Sinhala.
3. Started teaching young filmmakers while pursuing his career as a filmmaker.
4. Returned to theatre in 2006 with a popular Sinhala play ‘Horu Samaga Heluwen.’
5. Produced ‘Machan,’ which received acclaim at the Venice International Film Festival.
6. His films are recognized for innovative storytelling techniques, earning numerous awards.
7. Prominent figure against censorship laws in Sri Lanka.
8. First banned documentary, 'Silence in the Courts,' became a significant film in Sri Lanka after legal battles.
9. Widely regarded as one of the most talented and influential filmmakers in South Asia.
10. Has a lifelong love affair with Tamil cinema, influenced by Tamil friends during college years.

Information on this page is collected from public sources and may not be 100% accurate. Report an error