Diploma Course in Filmmaking

The Diploma Course in Filmmaking initiated by the NFC in 2005 is a comprehensive one-year weekend program that has been conducted continuously for over 20 years.

Venue: NFC Premises
Days: Saturdays and Sundays
Time: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Course Objective: To build a strong theoretical and conceptual foundation essential for developing a professional film industry and cinematic culture in Sri Lanka.

Course Structure:

• Stage I – Theoretical Studies
  • The Language of Moving Images
  • Cinema and Society
  • Cinematic Aesthetics
  • Study of Cinematic Narrative Forms
  • Film Theory and Criticism
• Stage II – Practical Training
  • Cinematography
  • Screenwriting
  • Editing
  • Directing

Entry Requirements:

• G.C.E. Advanced Level qualification
• G.C.E. Ordinary Level qualification with experience in the film industry

Course Fee: LKR 100,000.00

Film Appreciation Programs

Under the theme “Cinema for Life”, these programs are carried out in schools, universities, vocational institutions, and various public and private organizations, with the aim of fostering a vibrant film culture by nurturing an audience with well-developed appreciation skills.

Lectures, seminars, discussions, and debates on film appreciation are conducted with the participation of renowned film scholars and university academics. These programs flourish with local and international film screenings.

Discourse on Cinematography

Discussions, seminars, forums, and workshops to develop the cinematographic culture in Sri Lanka, engaging professionals, scholars, critics, and enthusiasts.

Educational Film Screenings

Special screenings of local and foreign films are conducted in regions with limited cinema access and upon requests from schools and universities.

Film Library

Category	Qty.
Sinhala Books	420
English Books	507
Local Films (DVD)	112
Foreign Films (DVD)	116
Foreign Films (Blu-ray)	104

The library books are available only for reference for the public.

Publications

• To promote film literacy, a Fourth quarterly magazine titled “Chitrapata” is published, with the distribution of primarily focused on bookstores and institutional premises. The magazine features articles covering a wide range of topics, including Sri Lankan film history, world cinema, film criticism, film information, technology, artists, the film industry, and film education.


• To encourage both veteran and emerging film writers, the NFC operates a publication project in which film related manuscripts are invited and selected by a committee to be printed and published as institutional publications accordingly.


• These books are made available primarily through Sarasavi bookstores and the NFC sales outlet.