MEDIA RELEASE
October 2 2009

Hamilton Interfaith discussion part of post graduate documentary

On Saturday 10th October at the Hamilton Gardens Victorian Glass House, a unique documentary film will be made by a Wintec post -graduate film student.

Sri Lankan Honours student Chinthaka Senadeera. Graduated from the Loyola College, Hyderabad, India in an undergraduate course in Mass Communication, and was offered a scholarship to undertake a one year Post Graduate Honours course at the Wintec School of Media Arts.

As part of his Honours project Senadeera has developed a multi -camera interfaith discussion which will include footage shot in India over the last few. Next Saturday’s filming is to include discussion between Christian, Buddhist, Hindu and Islamic cleric. The event is open to the public.

Senadeers says his production focuses on people's faiths, based on their religious beliefs and other ethical beliefs and aims to show the contrast between different faiths through a one hour documentary film.

He says while the film intentionally will have no conclusion, he hopes it will be thought provoking and encourage people of all faiths to respect each other’s beliefs.. The filming of the panel discussion coincides with the Week of Prayer for World Peace.

“ This will be an open discussion, which is more informative and liberal than arguing on certain disagreements of different teachings,” he said. One of the main disagreements between religions comes up with the concept of life after death. Basically there are two different beliefs, with Hindu and Buddhists believing in‘re-birth’ and Christians and Muslims not believing in this concept.

Senadeera said his film includes aspects of Eastern religious beliefs and practises contrasted with Western ideas. The interfaith panel discussion will feature Christian, Islamic, Hindu and Buddhist leaders who will discuss a series of questions He is planning to take the discussion concept to Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch during his next year of study, his Masters at Wintec..

ENDS

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