Nepali documentary - Bhedako Oon Jasto… now at Oxford…
Goods news for all Nepali people: Nepali documentary film - Bhedako Oon Jasto... in search of a song… has now been selected to be screened in the historic city of Oxford.
It is being screened at The 9th RAI International Festival of Ethnographic Film 2005, which is being organised by The Royal Anthropological Institute (RAI), the Institute of Social and Cultural Anthropology - University of Oxford in association with The Oxford Brookes University.
Existing since 1843 AD, The Royal Anthropological Institute (RAI), London (UK) is the world’s longest established scholarly association dedicated to the furtherance of anthropology (the study of humankind) in its broadest and most inclusive sense. It has a particular commitment to promoting the public understanding of anthropology, and the contribution of anthropology to public affairs.
Both the Universities, Oxford and Brookes, who are co-organisers of the festival, have a strong commitment to Visual Anthropology and ethnographic filmmaking within their curriculum.
The Festival provides a prestigious international forum to increase the accessibility of anthropological films to academic and media professionals and the general public in Britain and Europe. The Festival's primary role is to present recent, unreleased or rare films. The Festival and its accompanying workshops, master classes, conferences or retrospectives provides an opportunity to discover and appreciate films and other audio-visual productions from an artistic, anthropological (sociological) or historical point of view.
It explores new trends in ethnographic filmmaking and aims to be a platform of communication and the building of relationship between professionals (encouraging students in particular), the industry and the local community in general.
Ethnographic films influence other genres of documentary filmmaking and the festival is therefore capable of attracting a wide showcase for new filmmaker talent. It provides a major discussion forum about the way in which this genre is developing and debates about the boundaries between ethnographic and other forms of documentary filmmaking and visual anthropology.
The Festival is scheduled for Sunday – Wednesday, 18 to 21 September 2005 in Oxford.
The letter received from the organising body confirming the participation said:
“We are happy to inform you that your film has qualified for the Parallel
Screening at the RAI Film Festival. With almost 200 entries received, the pre-selections were highly competitive, especially given the limited number of screening.”
Out of 200 entries, 50 films from around the world have been selected for screening during the 4-day festival.
“Selection of the film at this festival is an extra recognition of the film in the international level. This will not only promote Nepal but also further introduce and promote Nepali filmmaking to the cream mass expected to participate during the festival in Oxford this fall”, says the delighted filmmaker – Kiran Krishna Shrestha.
Since it was premiered at Film South Asia 2003 in September 2003, where it had bagged The Special Mention Award – Bhedako Oon Jasto has been screened at festivals and special screenings in more than 50 places around the world.
It has also been screened to the audience all across the nation and was also the first ever documentary to be released at a Cinema in Nepal. It was screened for 7 days at Jai Nepal Cinema in Kathmandu with an aggregate of above 90% business.
Bheda ko Oon Jasto… is a simple documentation of a search process of a song in the Langtang region of Nepal, where Journalist Narayan Wagle leads Singer Amrit Gurung of Nepathya fame – to the source of the song – Bhedako Oon.
A common friend and a filmmaker by hobby, Kiran follows this 10-day trip.
As a result of which this award-winning documentary is shaped up.
This film is produced and promoted by nepa~laya.
“With added recognition from reputed festivals, more international festivals are sending entry requests for the film. I am glad Bhedako Oon jasto is at least succeeding in making some positive representation of the Nation in the international forums, “ says Kiran.
