English.Sahityapost
Kathmandu, January 23
The movie ‘Shambhala,’ directed by Min Bahadur Bham, has been selected to compete for the prestigious Berlin International Film Festival, marking the first-ever selection of a Nepali film in this category at the 74th edition of the festival.
The movie portrays the journey of Pema, a pregnant Himalayan woman, who embarks on a quest to find her lost husband in the challenging terrains of Lhasa, ultimately experiencing profound moments along the way.
Starring Thinle Lhamo, Sonam Topden, Karma Shakya, and others, ‘Shambhala’ delves into the depth of a woman’s life intertwined with the challenges posed by societal expectations.
The film, shot at an altitude ranging from 4,200 to 6,000 meters in Dolpa, is presented in both Tibetan and Nepali languages. Co-written by Min and director Avinash Bikram Shah, ‘Shambhala’ was produced in collaboration with France, Norway, Hong Kong, Turkey, Taiwan, the United States, and Qatar, with a budget of 980,000 Euros. Bham successfully secured substantial funding from various renowned global entities for this project. Previously known as ‘Chiso Barsa,’ the film underwent a name change to ‘Shambhala’ following discussions and script adjustments.
Min Bahadur Bham, known for his previous work ‘Bansuli,’ achieved a significant milestone as ‘Shambhala’ becomes the first Nepali film to compete in the main category at the Berlin International Film Festival.
