Hello from the Other Side: Sri Lankan film making waves on international stage

A brilliant creation exploring morality in the face of mortality, Hello from the Other Side, an international award-winning film from Sri Lanka, has been making its mark on a global scale, spotlighting the talent and creative culture of Sri Lanka.

- BY DIVYA THOTAWATTE

Hello from the Other Side, released in Sri Lanka on 6 March this year, has already earned multiple accolades at global film festivals. The film won Best International Feature Film at the Indian Independent Film Festival (IIFF) (December-January 2024-2025 Edition) and took home the Best Feature Film award at the Titan International Film Festival (2025, 1st Edition). It also earned two Awards of Merit (Special Mention) at the IndieFEST Film Awards, recognising Best Asian Filmmaker (Vinosha Kiriwandeniya) and Asian Theme.

The film is the latest work by Selvern Trust Founder, author and debut producer Vijendran Watson, who wrote the story as a milestone project to mark his 70th birthday. After collaborating on the 10-episode teledrama Sihinaya Obeymai, a series aimed at educating migrating domestic workers about abuse and human trafficking, Watson teamed up with director Vinosha Kiriwandeniya again, allowing the young filmmaker to further colour the film with her unique creative touch.

The film follows the life and actions of three individuals from rural Sri Lanka; a doctor, a nurse and a professional cricketer, where they are caught in a web of murder and corruption as the burdens of their individual pasts shape their choices. With its emotionally-charged narrative and multi threaded storytelling, the film explores the fragility of life in a world where morality is in question and relationships are strained under the weight of betrayal, parental influence, and upbringing.