INTERNATIONAL FILMMAKER ACCELERATOR PROGRAM
Launchpad for Sri Lankan Filmmakers
Overview
One of the biggest gaps in the Sri Lankan film education landscape is that many filmmakers are not equipped to position their projects in front of financiers, studios, and international markets. Festival strategy, global packaging, and market alignment remain largely underserved.
The International Filmmaker Accelerator is designed for filmmakers who want to operate beyond the local ecosystem and build projects with genuine global potential.
Each participant develops a single feature film or high-end series project, progressing from concept refinement to a market-ready package. By the end of the program, every filmmaker leaves with a professionally assembled development dossier suitable for submission to international labs, festivals, sales agents, and financiers.
Program Structure
- Duration: 16 Weeks
- Total Contact Hours: 100 Hours
- Location: TRACE Expert City
- Time: Saturdays, 9am to 4pm
Format:
- Workshops
- Development Labs
- Structured Mentorship
- Industry Simulations
- Live Pitch Forum
Who This Is For
- Film industry professionals
- Emerging and aspiring filmmakers
- Writers, directors, and producers seeking international pathways
- Creators developing feature films or high-end series
Core Pillars
1. Development and Dramaturgy
Advanced structural refinement, character architecture, thematic cohesion, and tonal calibration. Emphasis is placed on cross cultural accessibility while preserving authorial identity.
2. Screenwriting for the International Market
Crafting scripts that are structurally rigorous, emotionally legible, genre aware, and internationally readable.
3. Directorial Voice and Genre Strategy
Exploration of genre mechanics, cinematic grammar, and tonal authorship. Each filmmaker develops a cohesive directorial strategy aligned with target markets.
4. Visual Translation and Storyboarding
Translating narrative intention into visual architecture through shot design, mood frameworks, aesthetic references, and cinematic continuity planning.
5. International Film Business and Finance
Global financing structures, co production treaties, packaging strategies, talent attachment models, and navigating key film markets.
6. Sales, Distribution and Festival Strategy
Territory sales, streaming acquisitions, presales models, and long term rights strategy. Participants learn how projects are evaluated commercially across territories.
7. Pitch and Market Readiness
Development of industry standard pitch decks, verbal pitching frameworks, and investor facing materials.
8. Film Aesthetics and Cinematic Identity
Cinematic philosophy, authorship, and positioning to ensure each filmmaker’s creative voice aligns with international audience expectations.
Program Leads & Mentors
Harindu Gunawardena
Harindu is an international producer with an MA in Producing for Film and Television from Royal Holloway, University of London. He trained under the founding Head of BBC Films and a BBC Drama Commissioner, alongside Oscar and BAFTA listed filmmakers.
He is the founder of Rogue Element Limited, operating across the UK, US, and South Asia. His expertise includes market positioning, sales strategy, distribution pathways, and finance structuring.
Rajeev Colton
Rajeev is a filmmaker and the founder of Malla Productions. He holds an MFA in Producing for Film and Television from Chapman University and has worked at major studios including Marvel Studios and Proximity Media (Sinners, Creed III). He has worked alongside acclaimed filmmakers including Ryan Coogler and Asghar Farhadi.
His work focuses on elevating Sri Lankan cinema through authentic South Asian storytelling. He specializes in screenwriting, film aesthetics, and production planning
Akash Sunethkumara
Akash is an award-winning Sri Lankan filmmaker and actor trained at Raindance Academy. His work has screened at more than 30 international festivals, and he is the only Sri Lankan filmmaker featured at San Diego Comic-Con three times.
He founded High School Junkies and Junkyard Theory. His focus is genre filmmaking, with strengths in visual storytelling, storyboarding, and directing craft.
Application Requirements
1. Curriculum Vitae (CV)
A detailed professional resume highlighting your experience in film or related creative fields.
2. Cover Letter
A personal statement explaining:
- Motivation for the program
- Why you are a strong fit
- What you aim to achieve
- Long-term professional ambitions
3. Project Submission (optional)
A project you intend to develop during the program:
- Logline: Concise summary
- Synopsis: 1-2 pages (Structure, Character, Theme)
Feature films and high-end series concepts only.
Project Submission Disclaimer
Submission of a project as part of the application process is entirely optional and is requested only to assist the program leaders and selection committee in evaluating applicants. While applicants may choose to apply without submitting a project, providing one can help the committee better understand the applicant’s creative vision and development goals.
All materials submitted will be reviewed solely for the purpose of the selection process. Access will be limited to the Program Director and the designated Selection Committee responsible for evaluating applications.
Any project material submitted will remain the full intellectual property of the applicant. The program, its organizers, and its representatives will not reproduce, distribute, or share the submitted material outside the evaluation process. Submission of a project does not transfer, license, or assign any rights to the program or its organizers.
By submitting a project, applicants acknowledge that the material is being shared voluntarily for evaluation purposes only.
Program Investment
+ LKR 2,000 Registration Fee
Installment plans available.