Beskop Tshechu is the only documentary, animation and short film festival in Bhutan and is dedicated to promoting creative filmmaking and visual arts in the country through film screenings, awards and events. The festival was born out of an urgent need in the country for an alternative platform for filmmakers and audiences. As short films, documentaries and animations are rarely made for commercial gain, they are a very special and authentic form of expression, storytelling and communication which is vital for the growth of a creative and meaningful film industry in Bhutan. Many successful filmmakers around the world first hone their skills and talent by first attempting short forms of filmmaking. In a time where Bhutan's film industry is mainly modelled around and informed by commercial style films of melodrama and dance, the film industry suffers, and there are few meaningful/creative films with an authentic Bhutanese voice. Beskop Tshechu is organized with this urgent need for a platform for creative and meaningful film endeavours.
The event will take place from the 19-22nd April, concluding with the Award Ceremony in the Clock Tower. In the competition program this year, are 9 short fiction films, 5 documentary films, and 4 animation films, the highest record ever of Bhutanese films in competition. During the festival there will be free screenings of all the films, and masterclasses, workshops and seminars.
This year Beskop Tshechu is also proud to welcome visiting foreign professional- Jakub Krolikowski who founded the prestigious Five Flavours Asian Film Festival in Poland, where he also programmed a few Bhutanese films as well as a “Focus on Bhutan” package in 2017. He will serve as a jury member, and also conduct a master class on films and film festivals. Another exciting international guest is the award-winning filmmaker, multitalented Rima Das, whose films have travelled to more than 100 festivals around the world. She will screen her film “Village Rockstars” and also conduct a masterclass about her process and setting her own precedent. Her participation in the festival is generously supported by the Indian Embassy of Bhutan. Other notable filmmakers and film professionals involved as jury or providing masterclasses are actress and Filmmaker Tandin Bidha, documentary filmmaker Arun Bhattarai, German sound designer Benjamin Hoerbe, and founder of SAMUH, Nyema Zam.
The festival already had its preliminary event- a 5 day sound design workshop for selected participants from April 10-16th under the instruction of established sound designer Benjamin Hoerbe. On the 19th, there will be an Opening Ceremony of the festival in RUB Hall, where Honorable Minister of MoICE, Lyonpo Namgyal Dorji, will grace the occasion as Chief Guest. During the Opening Ceremony, Beskop Tshehcu will launch their festival catalogue, provide certificates to participants of a 5-day sound design workshop, spotlight their jury members and other visiting film professionals, and celebrate and spotlight their participating filmmakers.
At 5:30 pm on April 19th, in RUB HALL, the festival will open publicly with an award-winning short film by Zuri Rinpoche “Wooden Toilet” and the closing film will be on the 21st of April at 7pm in the RUB hall will be by Suraj Bhattarai called “Silent Walls”, which premiered in the Dharamshala International Film Festival. Beskop Tshechu strives to contribute to a meaningful film community and industry in Bhutan, and provide an alternative platform for both filmmakers and audiences.
FICTION FILMS IN COMPETITION
Fate of The Arrow by Sangay Jamtsho
Stars and Other Things by Lhawang Lodel
The Box by Kuenzang Norbu
The Call by Thinley Wangchuk
The Time Travelling Gho by Tsewang Rigzin
The Timeless Tree by Karma Duptho
Tap To Watch Live by Jamyang Japay
Khorwa by Ngawang Gedhar Wangchuk
Red Balloon by Dorji Wangchuk
Beskop Tshechu is sponsored by BICMA, the main cash awards will be supported by the Royal Office for the Media, His Majesty's Secretariat. and this year is also receiving additional support from the Indian Embassy to Bhutan. Other partners are Bhutan Broadcasting Services, VAST-Bhutan, Dorji Elements Hotel, Urban Dumra, Soha Studio, CSI Market and SAMUH.
