The University of Kelaniya, in collaboration with the Centre for Gender Studies and the Department of Drama, Cinema & Television, hosted the Elevate Film Summit 2025 on the 5^th of March 2025 at the Faculty of Humanities Auditorium (K14).

This significant event was organized in partnership with the Centre for Gender Equity and Equality (CGEE) of the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the Centre for Media Information and Literacy (CMIL) to address critical issues related to Cyber Gender-Based Violence (CGBV) and Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) through the medium of cinema.

The summit featured the screening of 12 student-directed films, highlighting narratives on gender issues, cyber violence, and reproductive health. Notably, six of these films were directed by female students from the University of Kelaniya, showcasing the emerging voices of young women in filmmaking.

The event featured two insightful panel discussions. The first panel, Filmmakers’ Insights, brought together student directors to discuss their creative process and the social impact of their films. The second panel, Academic Perspectives, featured a critical discussion led by academic experts, focusing on the intersections of cinema, gender, and reproductive rights.

The panelists included Senior Professor Anuruddhi Edirisinghe, Director of the Centre for Gender Studies (Sexual and Health Rights in Cinema); Senior Professor Patrick Rathnayaka, Department of Drama, Cinema & Television (Cinematic Review); Dr. Anusha Edirisinghe, Chair, Advisory Board of the Centre for Gender Studies (Gender Studies in Cinema); and the Moderator, Dr. Kumudu Sumeda from the Department of Sociology.

Distinguished guests and  participants included Senior Professor Nilanthi de Silva, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Kelaniya; Professor Praba Manuratne, Chair, Centre for Gender Equity and Equality of the UGC; Dr. Sulochani Ramanayake, Deputy Director of thr Centre for Gender Studies; Senior Lecturer Upul Ranepura from the Department of Drama, Cinema & Television; Senior Lecturer Diwanka Randunu Podduwage; Assistant Lecture Harshana Gunasinghe; academics, undergraduate students, and representatives from CMIL.

The Elevate Film Summit 2025 served as a dynamic platform to engage young filmmakers, academics, and students in a thought-provoking dialogue on gender-based issues and the power of cinema in driving social change. The event emphasized the urgent need for awareness, policy intervention, and advocacy to combat Cyber Gender-Based Violence and promote Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) in Sri Lanka.