Film: Twenty-one feature films produced last year will be competing in 29 categories of awards during the 16th Bhutan National Film Awards (BNFA), which will be held on February 21, coinciding with the Birth Anniversary of His Majesty The King.

The 16th BNFA will be screened live nationwide from the Lugar theatre in Thimphu.

The nominees for actor (male) in a leading role include Chencho Dorji for Dharma, Gyem Dorji for Pot of Gold, Tshering Gyeltshen for Bum Badha Chen mi Rinzi, Tshering Phuntsho for Hum Chewai Zamling and Nidup Dorji for Dangphu Dingphu.

For actor (female) in a leading role, the list includes Dorji Wangmo for Pot of Gold, Tandin Bidha for Bum Badha Chen mi Rinzi and Chag Tshelo, Tsokye Tsomo Karchung for Thrung Thrung Karmo and Lhaki Dolma for Hum Chewai Zamling.

The other categories includes best supporting actor for both male and female, best new comer actor for both male and female, best child artist, best cinematography and best use of the national language, among others.

The Lifetime Achievement Award is a new category that will be given this year.

Bhutan Film Association (BFA)’s executive director, Yeshi Dorji, said from these films that are in contention for the awards, around five are not screened but have a certification from Bhutan InfoComm and Media Authority (BICMA).

“A film can be registered for the BNFA if it has been produced and has a certification from BICMA from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2016,” Yeshi Dorji said.

A jury comprising of 10 members judged the films. The members were divided in three working committees, which are direction and performance, culture, youth and education, and under technical committee. The members completed the review on January 24.

BNFA is a platform where the talent of actors, directors and the film fraternity as a whole are celebrated, Yeshi Dorji said.

“We ensure a full transparency when it comes to making a decision from the jury members. The decisions are made based on the criteria. We maintain two copies of the score sheet, one with us and one with the jury members, so that no biased decisions are made,” Yeshi Dorji said.

However, if a director or a producer is not happy with the decision, one can always come for cross examination where we and the jury members will justify why one didn’t receive an award, Yeshi Dorji said.

The event is being organised by BFA and Woezer Events.

Thinley Zangmo