2025 CEYIFF Award Winners
🏆 Best Film: Veppam Kulir Mazhai – India
🎖 Grand Prix: Stigma – Sri Lanka – Chaminda Ilukwela
📽 Best Documentary: Babel to Abstraction – UK – Rob Lemkin, Irina Johnstone
🎬 Best Short Film: Amida – Iran – Majid Mirhashemi
🎭 Best Actor: Hello from the Other Side – Sri Lanka – Damith Wijayathunga
👑 Best Actress: Veppam Kulir Mazhai – India – Ismath Banu
🎞 Best Director: Hello from the Other Side – Sri Lanka – Vinosha Kiriwandeniya
📸 Best Cinematographer: Veppam Kulir Mazhai – India
✂ Best Editing: Stigma – Sri Lanka – Ajith Ramanayaka
🔊 Best Sound Mixing: Veppam Kulir Mazhai – India
💡 Originality Award: Stigma – Sri Lanka – Chaminda Ilukwela
⭐ Best Supporting Actor: Old Monk (Stigma) – Sri Lanka – Cletus Mendis
🌹 Best Supporting Actress: Stigma – Sri Lanka – Nita Fernand
Honorable Mentions The Replacement – Short (Sri Lanka) – Ruvani Kurukulasuriya Revenge Therapy – Actor: Gabriel Vigo Before 1619: She Took Justice – Director: Bobby John FieldThe Blind Spot – Director: Pavan Atukuri The Doctor’s Office – Director: Don Collins
Special CEYIFF Awards:Spirit of Service & Cultural Excellence: Andy Samarasena – for philanthropic work and promoting Sri Lanka through visual storytelling.Dedication & Excellence in Supporting Acting: Angela Senavirathna – for 50 years of contribution to Sri Lankan cinema.Emerging Visionary Award: Vindana Ariyawansa – for creativity and rising influence in filmmaking.
A Platform for Cultural Diplomacy
CEYIFF extends heartfelt appreciation to its partners and sponsors — City of Goleta, City of Santa Barbara, Direct Relief, Community West Bank, Chumash Foundation, Miguel Avila of Pacific Crest Realty, and Mesa Café — for their continuous support and commitment to cultural exchange.
“CEYIFF is not just a film festival — it’s a movement of unity, art, and heritage,” said President Aruni Boteju. “It’s where Sri Lanka meets the world through cinema.”
