Kathmandu, January 23
Shambala, a film directed by Min Bahadur Bham, has been selected to compete in the Berlin International Film Festival 2024.
This marks Bham’s second entry into the international film festival scene, following his successful debut with Kalo Pothi (The Black Hen), which garnered various international awards.
Berlin International Film Festival, scheduled from February 15 to 25, will feature 20 films, including Shambala, which will be vying for recognition in the international films category.
Bham said that the film, which took eight years to complete, owes its success to the tremendous efforts of the film production unit. Initially titled Chiso Barsha, meaning Year of Cold, the film was later renamed Shambala. The narrative unfolds in both Nepali and Tibetan languages.
This is the first time a Nepali feature film has secured a spot at the Berlin International Film Festival.
The storyline revolves around an expectant mother from the highlands who ventures on a journey with her husband’s younger brother in search of her husband who has left her.
The film was filmed at altitudes ranging from 4,200 to 6,000 meters in Dolpa, a district in Karnali. The script was a collaborative effort between Bham and Avinash Bikram Shah.
Thinle Lhamo, Sonam Topdra, Tenzing Dalhal, and Karma Shakya, among others, are starring in this film.
Bham said the film will be competing in other film festivals as well. However, its release in Nepal has not been scheduled yet.
