Asian Pop-Up Cinema: Shambhala ༄༅ཤམ་བྷ་ལ། - Nepal

Nepal, France, Norway, Hong Kong, Turkey, Taiwan, USA | Drama | 2024 | 150 minutes

In Nepalese and Tibetan w/ English Subtitles

Director: Min Bahadur Bham

Screenwriters: Min Bahadur Bham, Abinash Bikram Shah

Starring: Thinley Lhamo, Sonam Topden, Tenzin Dalha, Karma Wangyal Gurung

Film Source: Best Friends Forever

SYNOPSIS:

In the Nepalese Himalayas, Pema is in a polyandrous marriage with Tashi and his two younger brothers. When Tashi fails to return from a trading trip, the legitimacy of Pema’s unborn child is questioned. To prove her love and purity, she sets out to find Tashi.

Shot on location in the Upper Dolpo region of the Himalayas, this harrowing adventure depicts a woman’s physical and spiritual liberation with rich cultural details and breathtaking visuals.  The first Nepali film selected for the competition of the Berlin Film Festival, the film is a remarkable achievement for Nepal’s growing film industry. 

Min Bahadur Bham, Director

Nepalese filmmaker Min Bahadur Bham holds master's degrees in Buddhist philosophy and Political Science while pursuing a PhD in Anthropology. His short, Bansulli (2012), Nepal’s first entry to the Venice IFF, followed his debut feature Kalo Pothi (2015), which won the FEDEORA Best Film Award at Venice Critics Week and became Nepal’s official Oscar entry. Acknowledged for nurturing emerging talent, his productions have graced the festivals like -Venice, Berlinale, Rotterdam, and Busan. His second feature, SHAMBHALA, made history as Nepal’s first film in the Berlinale Competition section

Host or Publisher Asian Pop-Up Cinema