Film festival: The Beskop Tshechu Film Festival, the only short film and documentary festival in Bhutan, opened yesterday at the Thai Pavilion park in Thimphu.

The short film and documentary film festival is organised to advance creative filmmaking in the country for filmmakers and audiences.

Beskop Tshechu 2016 is dedicated to the Royal Birth of His Royal Highness Gyalsey Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck, according to a press release from the organisers.

As 2016 has been a special and blessed year with the Royal Birth, Beskop Tshechu 2016 is humbly dedicated to the Royal Birth. Beskop Tshechu is organised by a group of filmmakers and artists and is sponsored by SDC-Bhutan and the main award sponsor is the Royal Office for Media.

Beskop Tshechu 2016 will take place from September 28- October 2.

Over these five days, there will be a series of free film screenings around town- Thai Pavilion Park, Clock Tower, City Cinema and VAST. All screenings are free and open to the public. The films are mainly Bhutanese films, but there are also international films from Burma, Nepal, Japan and India. There are 14 Bhutanese films in competition for Best Fiction, Best Animation and Best Documentary.  The awards will be decided by a panel of jury members (from both Bhutan and outside).

During the festival, there are also seminars and workshops led by visiting foreign film professionals who are attending Beskop Tshechu as jury members. Their workshops and seminars may also continue till the 6/7th, depending on the interest expressed by filmmakers. There will also be live music performances from local bands, performing only original tracks (no cover songs), as Beskop Tshechu strives to promote original Bhutanese voices, art, and creativity.

Awards will be presented in the an award ceremony on October 1, at the Clock Tower square from 6-7:30pm, and winning films will also be screened. Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay will attend the award ceremony as the chief guest.

Other sponsors and partners of the event are VAST Bhutan, Drukair, Bhutan Foundation, Thimphu Thromde, Bhutan Media and Communications Institute, Dorji Elements Hotel, KarmaKora, Projection Foundation and Gangtey Palace Hotel.

Schedule 

Sept 30, 2:30pm-5pm

VAST-Bhutan

Screening of films

Sept 30, 6:30pm-8pm Screening Night, Thai Pavilion Park

Music from Zhaw and Yeshe

Screening of films

October 1, 10am-1pm

Workshop – Documentary Experiences

Bhutan Media and Communications Institute

October 1, 2:30pm-5pm

City Cinema

Screening and Q&A with the director

October 1 6pm-7:30pm

Clock Tower

AWARD CEREMONY

Screening of winning films

October 2, 11am-1pm

Film Seminar: How best to access International Opportunities

October 2, 2:30pm-5pm

Screening and Q&A with the director

Staff reporter