Agenda 14 is committed to promoting freedom of expression and human rights through training and assisting young filmmakers with a focus on female participation in digital storytelling, short film production and screenings.
In Sri Lanka, where opportunities for potential filmmakers are limited, we conduct professional training in script writing, cinematography, editing and other artistic and technical skills with
a special focus on women and youth.
We further focus on conceptualizing, producing and disseminating audio-visual expressions of the Sri Lankan youth for nearly a decade with some of these works having received local and international recognition.
Pitching Sessions
Agenda 14 was instrumental in organizing Sri Lanka's first ever film production pitch in 2015 and produced 8 short films on the theme ‘Reimagining Development' in the same year.
Since then, pitching sessions have been held annually with over 50 short films produced by young filmmakers from all parts of the country. These films focus on themes such as Reconciliation, Transitional Justice, Peace, Religious Harmony, Child Rights, Gender based Violence, Democracy and Citizenship. Over 500 young filmmakers have taken part in the competitive pitching sessions to secure production grants.
Festivals
Agenda 14 has conducted multiple residential youth camps and training programmes in storytelling, screenwriting and filmmaking in different parts of the country. Selected participants from these training programmes were also given advance technical training in cinematography, editing and film directing. These programmes are conducted in both local languages, Sinhala and Tamil. We have also organized workshops with highly acclaimed international resource persons on documentary filmmaking and screenwriting.
Film Productions
Agenda 14 started producing films in 2014. The first film production ‘Missing’ was developed as a group exercise at a Masterclass. Since 2015, Agenda 14 has produced over 75 short films in post-war Sri Lanka, with a special focus on peace, reconciliation, justice, development and gender based violence. Some of these films have won accolades, both nationally and internationally. Among these filmmakers there are male and female debut filmmakers, as well as youth from ethnic minorities in the country.
Training Programmes
Agenda 14 has conducted multiple residential youth camps and training programmes in storytelling, screenwriting and filmmaking in different parts of the country. Selected participants from these training programmes were also given advance technical training in cinematography, editing and film directing. These programmes are conducted in both local languages, Sinhala and Tamil. We have also organized workshops with highly acclaimed international resource persons on documentary filmmaking and screenwriting.
