BHUTAN DOCUMENTARY

SONGS FROM THE THIRD KING’S COURT

DIRECTOR: KINZANG CHOPHEL

RUNNING TIME: 5 MIN, LANGUAGE: DZONGKHA

The Third King of Bhutan, His Majesty, Jigme Dorji Wang- chuk set Bhutan on the path to modernization, while at the same time he pioneered ways to promote and preserve Bhutan’s distinct culture and tradition. During the 1960s he gathered the finest singers and musicians from around the country and sent them to Dum Dum Studios in Calcut- ta, India to record Bhutanese vocal music for the very first time. Without recording technology in Bhutan, this was an insightful act for the preservation of culture. For over 47 years these recordings were largely unavailable and have only recently been digitally restored and remastered.

PAWO – THE HERO AMONG US

DIRECTOR: TASHI DUKPA

RUNNING TIME: 5 MIN, LANGUAGE: DZONGKHA

Pawo-the Hero Among us is a true story based on a farm- er, Samten, who is one amongst thousands gathered to receive a 4 month long religious empowerment in remote Bhutan. The gathering was sacred and special for Sam- ten. But one thing was not sacred or special—the people’s attidtude and behavior to managing waste. Samten takes action- he starts to gather trash and and waste, segre- gating and putting in bins. He is not paid to do this, nor instructed. His outer act is a powerful symbol for his in- ner cleansing. He is a volunteer in a true sense- the hero among us.

THE CURSE

DIRECTOR: SONAM YANGZOM

RUNNING TIME: 18 MIN, LANGUAGE: DZONGKHA

Epilepsy is a disease caused by excess electrical charges in the brain, and when diagnosed properly, can be treated with medications that are not expensive and already easily available in Bhutan. It is estimated that approximately 7000 people suffer from epilepsy in Bhutan. The Curse talks about social stigma of the disease in Bhutan.

SEPARATE

DIRECTOR: KARMA GALEG

RUNNING TIME: 4 MIN, LANGUAGE: RUSSIAN & ENGLISH


Separate is an experimental documentary exploring the filmmakers experience as a Bhutanese in New York City and the barrier of language. Not knowing a language can be traumatizing. People who don’t know the language can hear all the sounds similarly confusing and relatively same. That’s why I used Russian language and English

DAWN AND DUSK

DIRECTOR: JIGME TENZIN | KINLEY DEM | TASHI LHENDUP | TSHERING PEM

RUNNING TIME: 5 MIN, LANGUAGE: DZONGKHA

Four Sherubtse college students venture into the nearby villages that surround the campus. Armed with DSLR cam- eras and basic filmmaking skills, they record snapshots of three Bhutanese living a life of retirement, retreat and resolve. Dawn and Dusk is a verse in film and a sonata in motion as the students capture the lives of our elderly living in the quiet settings of rural Bhutan.