Jigmi Wangdi
The Bhutan Film Institute (BFI), a non-profit registered with the Civil Society Organisation Authority, began its first training programme on directing and acting for local filmmakers and actors, to refine and elevate the skills of local filmmakers and talent.
The Executive Director of BFI, Tshering Phuntsho, said that the two trainings were clubbed together because of their correlation. “Directing and acting are deeply interconnected,” he explained. “By addressing both areas in one programme, we hope to enhance the overall quality of storytelling in Bhutanese cinema.”
Tshering Phuntsho said that many local filmmakers and actors have gained their skills through hands-on experience rather than formal education. “Our local talents are learning that there is a vast difference between their field experiences and what they are learning through this training,” he said. “One of our main goals is to provide them with technical knowledge and innovative training to better their craft.”
BFI has multiple trainings planned, including on cinematography, makeup and prosthetics, film production and personal development, among others.
“Our aim is to develop the Bhutanese film industry to a level where it can compete on the global stage. With strong support from our government and relevant agencies, I am confident about our progress,” Tshering Phuntsho said.
The capacity-building training is being carried out by two experts from the Netherlands and the USA.
Beek Groot from the Netherlands is training local filmmakers and actors in directing films.
“In Europe, it’s typical to spend years making short films before transitioning to feature films,” he said. “Here, however, many are already working on feature films, which is something very good about the industry.”
Beek Groot emphasised the importance of storytelling and authenticity in filmmaking. “Good characters are derived from real life, not just imagination,” he explained. “I am helping participants understand how to craft compelling stories and translate them into audio and visual formats. For Bhutanese filmmakers, the goal is to create films that are both original and deeply rooted in Bhutanese culture.”
He added that the local filmmakers will start making films for markets beyond Bhutan.
“A part of the film culture here is that a lot of inspiration is taken from Bollywood. Bollywood films have a different system with much higher budgets. If you try to copy that, you will always lose out,” he said.
He added that his main aim is to enable local filmmakers to see their strengths and understand what makes Bhutan an interesting country. “I am very sure international audiences want to see stories about Bhutan. It’s all about originality and authenticity.”
The capacity building training is a collaboration between BFI and the Department of Media, Creative Industry and Intellectual Property.