Nepal International Indigenous Film Festival (NIIFF) 2012

A belated blog entry:

While I was in Nepal this past summer, I had the pleasure of attending NIIFF 2012 that took place in Kathmandu between July 12 and 15. This was the sixth edition of the festival organized by IndigenousFilm Archive (IFA). IFA’s mandate to promote, train and archive Nepali filmmaking goes beyond indigenous groups. According to Sanjog Laaphaa Magar, the Director of NIIFF 2012, the festival is the world’s third largest Indigenous film festival. ImagineNATIVEFilm + Media Art Festival in Toronto is the largest.

At NIIFF 2012, I attended its inaugural ceremony held at Rastryia Sabha Griha. During the various introductions and speeches made by organizers and guests, the important role of IFA in Nepal’s Indigenous Nationalities movement was highlighted. Former indigenous Constituent Assembly members from different political parties such as Dev Gurung, Prithivi Subba Gurung, Suresh Ale Magar, Pasang Sherpa, Lucky Sherpa, Shanti Jirel, Indra Bahadur Gurung, Sita Gurung, Pari Thapa, Oon Sari Gharti Magar, Lila Subba, Jeep Tsering Sherpa and Ang Dawa Sherpa were felicitated during the inaugural of the festival. The leaders were presented with a special letter of recognition for their historic role played in the CA through indigenous caucus to protect the rights of indigenous people with a firm stand on single identity based federalism in Nepal. Rajkumar Lekhi Tharu, the President of Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN) made a fiery speech outlining the historic fight of Nepal’s Indigenous Peoples in Nepal’s current political juncture.

Rastriya Sabha Griha

Rastriya Sabha Griha, the venue of NIIFF had an uplifting and festive spirit with dancers and musicians from different indigenous groups such as Newar, Rai, Limbu, Tharu and Chepang performing. A definitive highlight was the Indigenous Food Festival with the following mouth-watering menu:

Lhomi: Tea Momo, Phapar Roti, Potato

Limbu: Sel, Yangben (Jheaw) and Pork Meat, Tongba, Aloodum

Magar: Batuk Roti, Pork Meat and Kodoko Raksi (Alcohol)

Majhi: Tama And Fish, Golmadi And Wine Made Of Beaten Rice

Tharu: Ghoghi, Chethari and Fish

Tamang: Sel, Roti, Gundruk Ko Achaar, Local Alcohol And Goru Ko Sukuti

Newar: Samayamoji, Bara, Yamari, Chatomari and Choila

Sunuwar: Kinima, Thetla, Khame, Gormali and Plate

Lohorung: Soruwa, Sel, Black Pork Meat and Achaar(Pickle)

Chepang: Ghhithaa, Bhyakur, Dhindo and Sishnu. 

The four-day festival screened over fifty films from all over the world including Canada, Cambodia, Switzerland, Taiwan, India, Ecuador, Bolivia, USA, Australia, Suriname, Philippines, South Africa, Mexico, Norway, New Zealand and Nepal. I really enjoyed Loonibha Tuladhar’s documentary Tunes from the Soil on the music band Kutumba. Knocking on Heaven’s Door was a passionate film from India interweaving personal stories of devotional music, blues, pop, punk and rock musicians.

Lakshya Dhungana announcing the Nepali Panorama Award

The festival closed with a Red Carpet Award Ceremony at Yak and Yeti Hotel, which I had the pleasure of attending with my dear friend/Toronto Nepali Film Festival colleague Laskhya Dhungana. The dinner was delicious and Kutumba closed out the festival with an electric performance. Of the many awards presented at the ceremony, two of the awards; Encouragement Award (w/ cash prize of Rs. 25,000 and Nepali Panorama (w/ cash prize Rs. 15,000) were sponsored by Nepali Janajati Association Canada (NJAC) and TorontoNepali Film Festival (TNFF) respectively. Lakshya presented the Nepali Panorama award to Impression of Lumbini made by filmmaker Lujaw Singh. On behalf of NJAC, I presented Encouragement Award to Cell Phone made by a young filmmaker Phulman Bal Tamang. Golden Drum (Best Film) Award went to Voices in The Clouds from Taiwan.

Presenting the Encouragement Award to Mr. Phulman Bal Tamang

Lakshya in front of Kutumba

Sanjog Laaphaa Magar, the Director of NIIFF 2012 told me, “this year’s festival has been the most successful and we attracted over 30,000 people to our program.” Of the many inspiring social/political developments in Nepal, IFA is certainly a pioneering organization in Nepal’s art/media sector. In the coming years keep an eye out for a new breed of Nepali filmmakers that IFA has been grooming.