Shambhala": Nepal's Debut at Berlinale Competing for Golden Bear

"Shambhala," Nepal's inaugural entry at the Berlin International Film Festival, immerses viewers in the spiritual odyssey of a distressed woman against the spectacular backdrop of the Himalayan mountains and its quaint villages, making its impressive debut this past Friday. The movie is up for the Golden Bear Award, which is for the Best Film Category. Along with Shambhala, other 19 movies are competing for the top award.

Overjoyed to mark his presence at the Berlinale, Director Min Bahadur Bham expresses immense pride in showcasing his film, which also honors his country, his native village, and his local community.

Bham, with credits like the successful "Bansulli" and "The Black Hen" in his directorial repertoire, acknowledges that the difficult location shooting in the rocky Himalayas has been one of the most challenging tasks.

While altitudes ranged from 4,200 to 6,000 meters, Bham accepts that the shoot was physically challenging, but the strength of mind and mental preparation made it a memorable adventure nonetheless.

Pema from Thinley Lhamo is the main character of the movie "Shambhala" and she is portrayed with heartfelt elegance. Pema, who is the wife of Tashi, who is portrayed by Tenzin Dalha, and his brothers – Karma (Sonam Topden) and Dawa (Karma Wangyal Gurung) – live in a polygamous marriage in a remote village.

The story begins with Pema dealing with an unexpected pregnancy that arises immediately after Tashi leaves for a business trip to Lhasa. Following the rumor about the baby’s paternity gives her a determination to rejoin her husband.

Pema's wanderings shift into a deep self-exploration as she throws herself headlong into the dangerous landscapes accompanied by Karma with every step she makes, their path accompanied by the haunting melodies, looking for the answers and comfort.

While on the red carpet, actor Karma Shakya who has in him the motif of Shambhala, a symbol inherent to the Buddhist ideology, representing peace and compassion, shares his views about the film. Shakya would like the viewers to relate to the theme in a way that it will strike them gently, as they follow the events of the film.

About Berlin Film Festival

Every year, the city of Berlin becomes the leading center for cinephiles as it is the host of the Berlin International Film Festival popularly known as Berlinale. From its introduction in 1951 till today, it has gradually gained a privilege and now is equal in status with Cannes and Venice amongst the "Big Three" film events. The Berlinale is an artistic celebration of cinematic arts that brings together films from various parts of the world to display a kaleidoscope of genres, including full-length features, thought-provoking documentaries, and innovative short films. It's the place where both the old hands and the bright young talents reveal their creative inspirations to the world. 

The festival doesn't just open the red carpet to the filmmaking elite with awards such as the Golden Bear (best film) and Silver Bear (individual achievement in acting and directing) but it is also a hive of industry activity. Presenting panel discussions as well as workshops that engage the audience and emphasize the artistic process, the Berlinale is turning into an essential rendezvous for the world film industry.

The 2024 edition is the 74th one. It started on 14 Feb and will end on 25 Feb. The Jury President for this year is the famous actress Lupita Nyong'o.