The cinema of Nepal has never been more visible internationally but there is an existential crisis at home, say some. Cinemas across the country will remain closed for one day on Feb. 5 in a symbolic gesture to protest against high government taxes.
“Shambhala” is the first Nepalese film to premiere in competition at the upcoming Berlinale, while in 2023 “The Red Suitcase” played at Venice, Zurich and Mumbai and “A Road to a Village” at Toronto and Busan. In addition, Nepal projects regularly get selected to take part in leading international financing markets like the Hong Kong — Asia Film Financing Forum, the Venice Production Bridge and India’s Film Bazaar.
At home, the industry is contending with a less rosy reality. In the last decade Nepal has been growing its multiplex screens, which have become the main source of revenue for both local and foreign films, a change from the previous...
“Shambhala” is the first Nepalese film to premiere in competition at the upcoming Berlinale, while in 2023 “The Red Suitcase” played at Venice, Zurich and Mumbai and “A Road to a Village” at Toronto and Busan. In addition, Nepal projects regularly get selected to take part in leading international financing markets like the Hong Kong — Asia Film Financing Forum, the Venice Production Bridge and India’s Film Bazaar.
At home, the industry is contending with a less rosy reality. In the last decade Nepal has been growing its multiplex screens, which have become the main source of revenue for both local and foreign films, a change from the previous...
- 2/5/2024
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Presenting a total of 269 films, including 80 world premieres, the 28th edition of the Busan International Film Festival concluded earlier this month, closing out with Andy Lau’s comedy The Movie Emperor. In addition to screenings, the festival hosted talks and master classes, with over 250 guests participating, notably Chow Yun Fat, Luc Besson, Fan Bingbing, Hirokazu Kore-eda, and Ryusuke Hamaguchi. Over 40 countries and more than 900 companies took part in the festival’s adjoining Asian Contents & Film Market section, while special programs addressed the Korean Diaspora and the Renaissance of Indonesian Cinema.
Along with international favorites like Poor Things, The Beast, and Anatomy of a Fall, Biff offered films from Korea, mainland China, Japan, and Southeast Asia, spotlighting emerging filmmakers like Iqbal H. Chowdhury, Chia Chee Sum (Oasis of Now), and Mirlan Abdykalykov (Jiseok award-winner Bride Kidnapping).
Here are five standouts from the crowded schedule:
Work to Do (Park Hong-jun)
With Work to Do,...
Along with international favorites like Poor Things, The Beast, and Anatomy of a Fall, Biff offered films from Korea, mainland China, Japan, and Southeast Asia, spotlighting emerging filmmakers like Iqbal H. Chowdhury, Chia Chee Sum (Oasis of Now), and Mirlan Abdykalykov (Jiseok award-winner Bride Kidnapping).
Here are five standouts from the crowded schedule:
Work to Do (Park Hong-jun)
With Work to Do,...
- 10/20/2023
- by Daniel Eagan
- The Film Stage
Acclaimed Nepalese filmmaker Deepak Rauniyar has wrapped principal photography on his next feature “Rajagunj” (“The Sky is Mine”).
The film is also one of nine projects to receive funding from the Norwegian Film Institute’s Sorfond. It received NOK625,000.
Rauniyar’s first feature, “Highway,” premiered at the 2012 Berlinale and played Locarno, while his sophomore feature “White Sun” (2016) won awards at the Venice, Palm Springs, Fribourg and Singapore festivals. He is also a Berlinale Talents alumnus saw and short film “Four Nights” play at Berlinale Shorts in 2022.
Written by Rauniyar, David Barker and Asha Magrati, “The Sky is Mine” examines the caste system endemic to South Asia, where there is great emphasis on skin color. The film follows Pooja, a light-skinned Nepali police officer, who has broken centuries-old misogyny by becoming the first female detective in the country. She comes across her first case in a violent border town. While tens...
The film is also one of nine projects to receive funding from the Norwegian Film Institute’s Sorfond. It received NOK625,000.
Rauniyar’s first feature, “Highway,” premiered at the 2012 Berlinale and played Locarno, while his sophomore feature “White Sun” (2016) won awards at the Venice, Palm Springs, Fribourg and Singapore festivals. He is also a Berlinale Talents alumnus saw and short film “Four Nights” play at Berlinale Shorts in 2022.
Written by Rauniyar, David Barker and Asha Magrati, “The Sky is Mine” examines the caste system endemic to South Asia, where there is great emphasis on skin color. The film follows Pooja, a light-skinned Nepali police officer, who has broken centuries-old misogyny by becoming the first female detective in the country. She comes across her first case in a violent border town. While tens...
- 10/12/2023
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Nabin Subba’s “A Road to a Village” is a stark look at the damaging effects of galloping modernization in rural Nepal.
The film had its world premiere at Toronto and is playing at the Busan International Film Festival in the ‘A Window on Asian Cinema’ strand. Subba is a renowned chronicler of societal change in Nepal and his previous work includes “Numafung” (2001), which won an award at the Vesoul International Film Festival of Asian Cinema, “Goodbye Kathmandu” (2017) and documentary series “Dalan” (2008).
Written by Subba and Mahesh Rai, “A Road to a Village” follows skilled bamboo weaver Maila, whose placid life changes when a road connects their remote village to the nearest town. Particularly affected is his precocious seven-year-old son Bindray who is suddenly exposed to a world containing Coke, sunglasses, mobile phones, televisions and hip hop. The spark for the film came 25 years ago when Subba met a fearful...
The film had its world premiere at Toronto and is playing at the Busan International Film Festival in the ‘A Window on Asian Cinema’ strand. Subba is a renowned chronicler of societal change in Nepal and his previous work includes “Numafung” (2001), which won an award at the Vesoul International Film Festival of Asian Cinema, “Goodbye Kathmandu” (2017) and documentary series “Dalan” (2008).
Written by Subba and Mahesh Rai, “A Road to a Village” follows skilled bamboo weaver Maila, whose placid life changes when a road connects their remote village to the nearest town. Particularly affected is his precocious seven-year-old son Bindray who is suddenly exposed to a world containing Coke, sunglasses, mobile phones, televisions and hip hop. The spark for the film came 25 years ago when Subba met a fearful...
- 10/6/2023
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
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