International Indigenous Film Festival in Dharan, eastern Nepal

Indigenous Film Archive (IFA) is organizing International Indigenous Film Festival 2011 in Dharan city of eastern Nepal from 18-19 December 2011. The festival aims to raise the issues of indigenous rights and demands through films, expand indigenous films to villages and include indigenous film-making in the so-called ‘mainstream’ towards strengthening the foundation of national unity.   

Indigenous Nationalities Film Promotion Committee, Dharan will host the International Indigenous Film Festival 2011 at the City Hall of Dharan. Embassy of Denmark is the main supporter of the festival.

This is the third edition of the International Indigenous Film Festival being held annually in Dharan as an extension of the Nepal International Indigenous Film Festival (NIIFF) organized by the Indigenous Film Archive in Kathmandu.

A total of fifteen indigenous films and documentaries will be screened in the festival this year. The films from Nepal include Godewa (Tamang), Gwaye Maru (Newar), Tinaagaa (Tamu), Bhuyaar (Tharu) and Bhuyar (Tharu), among others while the films from other countries are Building Dignity (Bolivia), Oscar Award nominee Hotel Rwanda (Rwanda), etc. Short films and documentaries being screened are Thakthakma (Limbu), Da Chiuri (Chepang), Naaraam (Magar), Mahita (Tamu) from Nepal and Geitalaaga from Finland. The festival will also consist of various indigenous food and books stalls.

Translated from Bhisan Rai’s original article (below) published on 13 June 2011 on Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN)’s website. 

Monday, 13 June 2011 00:02

धरानमा आदिवासी चलचित्र महोत्सव भीषण राई आगामी पुस ३ र ४ गते धरानमा अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय आदिवासी चलचित्र महोत्सव हुने भएको छ । आदिवासी मातृभाषाका चलचित्रमार्फत आदिवासी माग, मुद्दा र  अधिकारका विषयहरू उठान गराउने, आदिवासी चलचित्रलाई गाउँगाउँसम्म विस्तार गर्ने र मूलधार भनिने चलचित्रमा आदिवासी धारलाई पनि समावेश गर्दै राष्ट्रिय  एकताको आधारलाई अझ मजबुत बनाउने उद्देश्यअनुसार अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय आदिवासी चलचित्र महोत्सव हुन लागेको हो । आदिवासी जनजाति चलचित्र प्रवर्द्धन समिति सुनसरी धरानको आयोजनामा धरान सभागृहमा अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय आदिवासी चलचित्र महोत्सव -२०६६ हुन लागेको हो । महो त्सवको मूल आयोजक इन्डिजिनियस चलचित्र अर्काइभ -आईफा) हो भने मूल सहयोगी एम्बेसी अफ डेनमार्क छ । राजधानीमा इन्डिजिनियस चलचित्र अर्काइभद्वारा सम्पन्न अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय आदिवासी चलचित्र महोत्सव-२०६६ लाई विस्तार गर्ने क्रममा धरानमा आयोजना गर्न लागिएको हो ।  प्रत्येक वर्ष धरानमा आयोजना गरिने अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय आदिवासी चलचित्र महोत्सवको यो तेस्रो संस्करण हो । महोत्सवअन्तर्गत राष्ट्रिय अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय लामा छोटा गरी कुल १५ वटा आदिवासी चलचित्र तथा वृत्तचित्र प्रदर्शन गरिनेछ । जसमा बिल्डिङ डिग्निटी -बोलीभिया), ओस्कार  एवार्ड प्राप्त होटल रुवान्डा -रुवान्डा), गोदेवा -तामाङ), ग्वाय मरु -नेवार), तिनागा -तमु), भुयार -थारु), बाराहीपुत्र -मगर) आदि चलचित्र छन् भने छोटा चलचित्र तथा व ृत्तचित्रमा थाक्थाक्मा -लिम्बू), द चिउरी -चेपाङ), नाराम -मगर), महिटा -तमु) र गेइटालागा -फिनल्यान्ड) प्रर्दशन गरिनेछ । चलचित्र महोत्सवस्थल धरान सभागृहमा नेवार, थारु, राई, लिम्बू, मगर, शेर्पा तामाङलगायत विभिन्न आदिवासी जनजातीय खानाका  स्टलका साथै आदिवासी जनजाति पुस्तकहरूको स्टल पनि राखिनेछन् ।

The goddess’ secrets | et cetera | :: The Kathmandu Post ::

ANUSTHA SHRESTHA

OCT 26 -
While most Nepali mainstream films do not gain any international importance, Nepali documentaries have been doing quite well—not just with their content, but also with their technical aspects. Documentary makers benefit from the cultural and social diversity of our country. And another Nepali documentary has recently hit the headlines, premiering at the 11th Annual ImagineNative film and media art festival in Toronto, Canada.

Kumari, directed by Prina Raj Joshi, premiered at the indigenous film

fest on Oct. 23. The eight-minute film promises to eliminate misconceptions about the Living Goddess and to promote Nepali culture. This is the only film from South Asia to have been screened at the film festival.

The documentary shows how a young Shakya girl is selected as the most powerful Goddess of the country and how people crave to get her blessings. Many documentary makers have attempted this venture and it has become a commonplace story; nevertheless, the six-member team from Perfect Media took up the challenge to present the story of the living goddess in a different manner. “There is a popular myth about how a Kumari is selected and how a young girl is kept in a dark room surrounded by heads of buffalo to check whether she is fit to be a goddess,” says Joshi. “This has posed several issues concerning human rights from international organisations. We want to make it clear that this is nothing but just a myth.” The documentary shows how the living goddess lives in her facilitated residence, Kumarichhen. There are around half a dozen caretakers for her; she has her special study hours, and she is given more privilege than a normal child. “She is one of the most privileged children in our country—even the head of the state bows to her,” explains Joshi.

“This documentary took us around a year-and-a-half of research and filming,” he says. The Kumari makes public appearances around 13 times in a year on various festive occasions—that was the maximum number of chances that the team had to capture the glimpse of the goddess through their lens. Though the Kumarichhen is normally open to Nepali visitors, cameras are not allowed inside. Therefore, the cameramen had to be patient and alert because if they missed a shot, they would have to wait for a year to complete the project.  Moreover, anadditional challenge for them was the protection of their camera. On rare occasions such as Indrajatra, Dashain, Ghode Jatra and other festivals, when the Kumari is taken around the city in a chariot, huge crowds prevent any filming of the event. “We almost lost our camera three or four times and once, we were nearly hit by a part that fell off a poorly-maintained chariot,” says Joshi. Though they were also restricted by the poor lighting—as most filming took place during the evenings—they managed to shoot a rare scene of the Kumari walking on the ground; the Kumari is either pulled in her chariot or always carried by someone. Only a few know about this event as it takes place in the night.

Joshi, who has shot half a dozen documentaries, has screened two documentaries—Twisin and Gway Maru—previously at the same film festival. “Although we are still behind in technology, this is nothing to be discouraged about. We can come up with competitive presentations and content.” Kumari is a silent documentary, and the current length of eight minutes will be extended to around 35 minutes before the filmmakers screen it in Nepal. A Canadian distributor has already put up a proposal for the film, which is an encouragement for upcoming Nepali filmmakers.

“I live in Nepal. I have been watching all the festivals and the Kumari

since long, but these festivals are still mystical,” says Joshi. He considers it necessary to have a visual record of our festivals and celebrations for the younger generation and to the world. And Kumari seems to be the right beginning for this.

Posted on: 2010-10-27 07:51