Republic of Amnesia

Directed by: Kannan Arunasalam Released: 2026 (educational) Year of Production: 2025 Running Time: 78 min Language: English Subtitle Options: English Closed Captions Subjects: Asian Studies Republic of Amnesia follows the rise and fall of Sri Lanka's Aragalaya (“The Struggle”) — the youth-led protest movement that forced authoritarian president Gotabaya Rajapaksa to flee the country in 2022. At its heart are young activists like Melani, Buwanaka and Jeana, who lead marches, face arrest, and fight for a more inclusive future. As they challenge a corrupt political dynasty and a system rigged to resist change, their struggle raises a deeper question: can fragile hope survive in a country built on forgetting? As the Aragalaya's spirit of creative defiance ripples across Asia, inspiring youth movements from Bangladesh to Indonesia, the film reveals something deeper. That the struggle for democracy lies not only in institutions or leaders but in the stories a society chooses to preserve and pass on. About the filmmakers Kannan Arunasalam is a British-Sri Lankan documentary filmmaker. His films have received wide international recognition through his work in leading platforms including the BBC, Guardian Documentaries, and The New Yorker. Kannan trained under the Witness team in observational documentary filmmaking. His last film, 'Sri Lanka's Rebel Wife' (2022) premiered at the Frontline Club, London and was shortlisted for best documentary at the DIG Investigative film awards. Kannan's previous film, 'The Tent' (2019), a two channel installation film, was the focus of his British solo exhibition at the prestigious Yorkshire Contemporary, U.K. (formerly The Tetley). Kannan is also a qualified media and human rights lawyer and was a visiting professor teaching 'Media representations of the Sri Lankan conflict' at Cornell University. His feature documentary, 'Possible Landscapes' (2025) in collaboration with two professors at Cornell University, recently had its world premiere at BlackStar Film Festival. This is his second feature film. Host a Screening and Book the Filmmaker at your Event