Lester James Peries

Lester James Peries was a great film maker.

He lived in Sri Lanka. He made over 28 long movies. He told stories about families in small villages.

One movie he made was called Rekava. It was the first movie shot outdoors. His films helped his country make its own art. People all over the world loved his work. He even had a flower named after him. He was a very special artist.

Lester James Peries was a famous film maker from Sri Lanka.

Many people call him the father of Sri Lankan cinema. He made more than 28 long films. Most of his stories were about family life in small villages.

He started making movies in 1949. His first big movie was called Rekava. It was the first movie in his country shot outdoors. This changed how movies were made in Sri Lanka. He also made a film called Nidhanaya. That film was named one of the top 100 movies of the century.

Lester won many awards for his hard work. He won the Golden Peacock in India for his film Gamperaliya. His movie Wekande Walauwa was even sent to the Academy Awards. He received the Sri Lankabhimanya. This is the highest honor in Sri Lanka. People even named a new orchid after him. He died in 2018 at the age of 99. His work helped his country find its own voice in art.

Lester James Peries was a very important film director from Sri Lanka.

Many people call him the father of Sri Lankan cinema. He spent many years making movies, from 1949 all the way to 2006. He worked on over 28 full-length films. He also made many short films and documentaries. Most of his stories were about family life in small villages. His movies helped his country show its own unique culture to the world.

Making these films was a big job that required many steps. Lester often wrote the scripts and directed the actors. In his early days, he worked with a friend named Hereward Jansz. They used limited camera equipment to make their first short film. This film was called Soliloquy, and it was made in 1949. It won an award for having great technical skill. Later, he worked with a team of experts to make even bigger movies.

Lester's journey into movies started when he was a young boy.

When he was eleven, his father gave him a movie projector. This machine played silent movies by a famous man named Chaplin. As a teenager, Lester went to St. Peter's College in Colombo. He later became a journalist and wrote for newspapers. He also worked for a radio station for a short time. He did not know he would become a famous director back then.

Lester's career was full of famous names and big awards.

His movie Rekava was released in 1956 and was shot outdoors. This was a new way to make movies in his country. Another film, Gamperaliya, won a Golden Peacock award in India. His movie Nidhanaya was even named one of the top 100 films of the century. In 2002, his film Wekande Walauwa was sent to the Academy Awards. He even received the Sri Lankabhimanya, which is the highest honor in Sri Lanka.

Today, people still remember Lester and his amazing work.

A special foundation was started to help keep Sri Lankan cinema alive. This foundation helps young people learn about film and art. People even named a beautiful hybrid orchid after him. A national stamp was also made to honor his life. His wife, Sumitra, was also a famous film director. Lester lived a long life and died in 2018 at age 99.

Lester James Peries was a monumental figure in the history of Sri Lankan film.

Often called the father of Sri Lankan cinema, he was a director, screenwriter, and producer. His career spanned many decades, from 1949 until 2006. During this time, he produced over 28 feature films. He also created various short films and documentaries. His work helped create an authentic expression for Sinhala cinema. He focused on stories about family life in rural settings. These films often featured complex and conflicted characters.

Peries' journey into filmmaking began with a personal gift. When he was eleven years old, his father gave him an 8mm Kodascope projector. This device allowed him to watch silent movies by Charlie Chaplin. Although he loved movies, he did not attend drama school. He actually dropped out of St. Peter's College to become a journalist. He worked for the Daily News and The Times of Ceylon. He also spent time reviewing books on Radio Ceylon. These early jobs helped him develop a deep connection to storytelling.

His professional filmmaking started in England during the late 1940s.

While living there, he met a fellow Sri Lankan named Hereward Jansz. The two young men decided to make films together. They worked with very limited camera equipment. Peries wrote the scripts and directed the scenes. Jansz handled the filming. Their first short film, Soliloquy, was released in 1949. It won the Mini Cinema Cup for its technical proficiency. This success led to several more experimental films.

Peries eventually returned to Ceylon to join the Government Film Unit. He worked as an assistant to producer Ralph Keene. During this period, he helped create important documentaries. These included Heritage of Lanka and Nelungama. He also directed Conquest in the Dry Zone, which studied malaria control. He also made a witty documentary called Be Safe or Be Sorry. In 1955, he left the unit to form his own company, Chitra Lanka Limited. This move allowed him to focus on producing Sinhala films.

In 1956, Peries revolutionized the national film industry with Rekava. This film was the first Ceylonese movie to be shot outdoors. It was based on village life and was nominated at the 1957 Cannes Film Festival. Following this, he directed many award-winning projects. Gamperaliya, released in 1964, won the Golden Peacock at the International Film Festival of India. His film Nidhanaya was highly respected by critics. The Cinémathèque Française included it among the top 100 films of the century. In 2002, his film Wekande Walauwa became Sri Lanka's first submission for the Academy Awards.

His contributions earned him many prestigious international honors. He received the UNESCO Fellini award for his outstanding career. In 1997, the French government named him a Commandeur in the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. He also received the Lifetime Achievement Award in India in 2000. Within his own country, he was awarded the Sri Lankabhimanya. This is the highest civil honor in Sri Lanka. Even nature honored him when a hybrid orchid was named Ascocenda Lester Peries in 2004.

Today, his legacy is protected by the Lester James Peries and Sumitra Peries Foundation.

This foundation was established through an act of Parliament. It aims to support the development of Sri Lankan cinema. It also helps young people learn about related arts and crafts. The foundation works to promote humanitarian ideals and democratic values. It also assists with research and training in various fields. Through this work, the impact of his life continues to reach new generations.