Nepali Film makers to participate at the Himalaya Film Festival in Tokyo
Nepali Filmmakers – Kiran Krishna Shrestha (maker of Bhedako Oon Jasto… in search of a song) and Dhurba Basnet (maker of Schools in the cross fire) are leaving for Japan to take part at the Himalayan Film Festival in Tokyo.
16 films from the Himalaya Archief Nederland were selected for the festival. The selection includes 6 works from Nepali Filmmakers, including Dhurba's and Kiran's.
Other filmmakers whose films are also to be screened at the Festival are – Tsering Rhitar (The Spirit Doesn't Come Any More), Kesang Tseten (On the road with the red god: MACHHENDRANA), Sapana Sakya and Ramyata Limbu (Daughters of Everest), Mohan Mainali (Timber to Tibet)
Among other films on Nepali issue to be screened is - "Climbing Manasulu" by Gajiro Yamamoto.
The festival is also to coincide and celebrate the 50-year-anniversary of the
epoch-making success for a Japanese climbing expedition reaching Mt. Manasulu. In 1956, the climbing expedition reached Mt. Manasulu (8,163 m) of the Himalayas, which was the world's first successful scaling of the mountain. The expedition was acknowledged as a great achievement internationally. The Japanese success had helped to boost the morale of the Japanese people, who had been mentally and economically depressed since World War II.
The year 2006 is also the 50-year-anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Nepal and Japan.
"Rethinking the relationship between human and nature through the
Himalayas is the main objective behind the Festival," says Kunihiko Tanaka - Executive Director of the festival. He further adds, "The Japanese people here are curious about the films mainly because they hardly know them. I'm sure they will like the films."
"It is a great honour to be invited to participate in the Festival, both for me and for my film. As the film has also been subtitled in Japanese for the festival – it will be more meaningful for a larger Japanese Audience," says Kiran Krishna Shrestha, filmmaker of the Nepali documentary – Bhedako Oon Jasto… in search of a song.
Initiated by the Himalaya Archief Nederland, a Holland based NGO, the festival is co-hosted by NHK International – The Japanese Public Broadcasting Company. It is scheduled to be held in Tokyo at the NHK Fureai Hall from 14th August to 22nd August.
