| The Summoning | |
|---|---|
 Official Poster | |
| Directed by | Akash Sunethkumara |
| Produced by |
|
| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Kasun Rathnasiri |
| Music by | Ruud Hermans |
Production company | High School Junkies |
Release date |
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Running time | 14 minutes |
| Language | English |
The Summoning is a Sri Lankan horror short film written and directed by Akash Sunethkumara. It premiered on the 26 October 2018 and was released on YouTube and Vimeo the same Halloween. [1]
Four friends discover an ancient spirit board and conduct a séance, inadvertently summoning something sinister that seeks its own vengeance.
The film was conceived as a quick skit for Halloween by the production team High School Junkies after their previous short EIDETIC was received successfully at film festivals around the world including Raindance Film Festival and the San Diego Comic-Con Independent Film Festival. [2] Shot over four nights in Negombo, Sri Lanka [3] this was the group's fifth attempt at a cinematic production, the film's entire completion time lasted roughly 9 months. [4]
The film premiered at the National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka on the 26 October 2018. [5]
The Sunday Times praised the 14 minute short's cinematic quality as "hauntingly brilliant" [6] having been made on a shoestring budget.
Dimithri Wijesinghe of The Morning wrote that the director and his crew are able to create an idyllic horror atmosphere with some highly impressive framing, to keep you on edge. [4]
The film also became the second Sri Lankan film to be accepted for screening at San Diego Comic-Con's Independent Film Festival in 2019. [7] Harith Wirasinha of Pulse.lk states that when San Diego Comic-Con chooses two Sri Lankan short films to be featured in their film festival "we know that something is up". [8]
Sri Lankan cinema encompasses the Sri Lankan film industry. It is a fledgling industry that has struggled to find a footing since its inauguration in 1947 with Kadawunu Poronduwa produced by S. M. Nayagam of Chitra Kala Movietone. Sri Lankan films are usually made in Sinhala and Tamil languages, the dominant languages of the country. Cinema of Sri Lanka is also referred to as Follywood as many famous Sri Lankan actors had surnames starting with an "F."
Deshabandu Gammana Patabendige Don John Abeywickrama, popularly as Joe Abeywickrama, was an actor in Sri Lankan cinema, theater and television. Initially famed as a comedic actor in early 1950s, Abeywickrama became one of the greatest film actors of alltime in Sinhala cinema with several critically acclaimed award winning dramatic performances.
Upeksha Swarnamali, popularly known as "Paba", is an actress in Sri Lankan cinema and television and a former member of the Sri Lanka Parliament. She gained popularity for her role on the television series "Paba" broadcast on Independent Television Network.
Malaka Dewapriya (Sinhala: මාලක දේවප්රිය, IPA: [maːləkə deːʋaprijə] is a Sri Lankan film maker, visual artist, Sinhala Radio Play writer, short film and video director.
Sadda Vidda Rajapakse Palanga Pathira Ambakumarage Ranjan Leo Sylvester Alphonsu, popularly known as Ranjan Ramanayake, is a former Sri Lankan politician, actor, film director, singer and script writer who appeared in a number of Sinhala language films. He is a former Member of the Parliament.
Udayakantha Warnasuriya is a Sri Lankan film director, producer, screenwriter and author. Considered to be one of Sri Lanka's best film makers, Warnasuriya has made many movies, including Gini Avi Saha Gini Keli,Rosa Wasanthe, Hiripoda Wassa, Randiya Dahara and Asai Man Piyabanna.
Chandani Seneviratne,, is an actress in Sri Lankan cinema, theatre and television. One of the most distinguished artists in Sinhala cinema, Seneviratne has received critical acclaim and awards at every award festival in Sri Lanka for several dramatic roles.
Saranga Disasekara is a Sri Lankan actor, singer, model and a host by profession. Saranga was awarded the most popular television actor in Sri Lanka award at Sumathi Awards, Raigam Tele'es and SLIM-Nielsen Peoples Awards in several times. Currently he is hosting Sri Lanka's most popular reality programme Hiru Star.
Roshan Ravindra Rajapakse is an actor in Sri Lankan cinema, theater and television. Ravindra, who often acts in dramatic roles, is a recipient of Best Actor Award in many local award festivals.
Irudini Umali Thilakarathna is a Sri Lankan cinema, teledrama and stage actress. She was awarded the best actress in 2017 for her role in "Bohimiyanuwa" in both Sumathi Tele Awards and Raigam Tele Awards. In addition to working in Sri Lanka, she is an established and recgonised actress in Japan, frequently contributing to Japanese production in both theatre and film.
Garanduwa Baarage Palitha Silva [Sinhala]) is a Sri Lankan actor, dramatist, producer, director, scriptwriter and author. He started his career at 15 years of age when he was chosen to train at the esteemed Professor Solomon Fonseka's school of Acting. Silva has acted in more than 400 television serials and is best known for the roles in teledramas Keetaya, Deweni Inima and titular character in the biographical film Anagarika Dharmapala Srimathano. He was awarded the honorific titles of Maanava Hithavadee Keerthi Sri Veeraputra Deshabandu in and Kalaashubana Janaranjana Keerthi Sri Deshamanya (July,2021) for his service towards Buddhism in Sri Lanka. He was also cast in the international film Shadow of the Cobra Starring Art Malik, Michael Woods and Arthur Dignam.
Eidetic is a 2016 Sri Lankan action/thriller short film written, produced and directed by Akash Sunethkumara. It was created as part of the director's MA thesis and is known for being the first Sri Lankan short film to be screened at the San Diego Comic-Con's International Independent Film Festival, in 2017.
Silmesthri Giriraj Kaushalya, popularly known as Giriraj Kaushalya, is a Sri Lankan actor in Sri Lankan cinema, stage drama and television. Highly versatile actor from drama to comedy, Kaushalya also has worked as an assistant director, producer, script writer and a filmmaker.
Semini Dinusha Palihawadana née Iddamalgoda [Sinhala]), popularly as Semini Iddamalgoda, is an actress in Sri Lankan cinema, theater and television. Performing in both dramas to comedies, she is best known for the role Roshini in television sitcom Yes Boss, role Kumari in the film Sinhawa Atharin and as Suddi in film 28.
Akash Sunethkumara is a Sri Lankan filmmaker, writer and actor. He is known for the short films that he created with his production team called the High School Junkies.
Priyankara Rathnayake is an actor in Sri Lankan cinema, stage drama and television. Highly versatile actor mostly engaged in theater and cinema, Rathnayake is a lecturer and Head of Drama & Theatre and image Arts Unit, Department of Fine Arts in University of Kelaniya by profession.
Shyam Fernando [Sinhala]), is an actor in Sri Lankan cinema, stage drama and television. He is a dubbing artist and was nominated for several dramatic roles.
Kapuwela Vidanage Senanayake Mudiyanselage Jayani Chamathka Dharmadasa Senanayake [Sinhala]), popularly as Jayani Senanayake, is an actress in Sri Lankan cinema, theater and television. Highly versatile actress in drama and comedy, she is best known for the roles in films Sulang Kirilli, Walapatala and Goal.
Temporal is a 2022 Sri Lankan science fiction short film directed by Akash Sunethkumara. The film stars Vimukthi Kiriella, Ishanka Abeysekara, Krishantha Mendis and a cameo appearance by Lakshman Mendis.