This May, Sri Lanka takes centre stage in the global cinematic landscape as Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts, under its Signature Selection brand, hosts the highly anticipated Signature Weekend—a curated celebration of storytelling and cinema featuring acclaimed Oscar-nominated filmmaker Deepa Mehta and her long-time producing partner David Hamilton.
Taking place from May 30th to June 1st, 2025, the event is held in collaboration with the National Film Corporation of Sri Lanka and the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB). These strategic partnerships represent a significant national commitment to positioning Sri Lanka as a film-friendly and visually compelling destination for international productions.
The Signature Weekend will unfold across two iconic Cinnamon properties—Cinnamon Bentota Beach – Signature Selection and Cinnamon Life at City of Dreams, Colombo—showcasing Mehta’s landmark films Midnight’s Children, Water, and Funny Boy, all of which were filmed in Sri Lanka. The programme features film screenings, panel discussions, roundtable conversations, and an exclusive afterparty with cast and crew.
More than a tribute to celebrated cinema, the Signature Weekend serves a larger purpose: to reimagine Sri Lanka as a destination for global storytelling. The presence of Deepa Mehta not only reaffirms her creative bond with Sri Lanka but also underscores the island’s unique potential as a natural studio—blending cultural richness, visual diversity, and production-readiness.
The support of the National Film Corporation brings institutional strength and forward-thinking creative policy to the initiative, while the involvement of the SLTPB highlights the powerful intersection of cinema and destination marketing. Together, they signal a unified national vision to embrace film as both a cultural and economic catalyst for Sri Lanka.
The initiative is further endorsed by global brands such as HSBC Sri Lanka and Mastercard Sri Lanka and amplified through local media partnerships with Wijeya Newspapers and the Capital Maharaja Group (MBC/MTV) in Sri Lanka, ensuring widespread visibility and engagement.
Ticket prices range from LKR 10,000 for individual screenings to LKR 75,000 for the all-inclusive Signature Stay Package at Cinnamon Bentota Beach – Signature Selection.
