SCREENINGS

An inspirational tale of rebellion, courage and hope in patriarchal Nepal. Silenced and subjugated for most of her life, uneducated Belmaya takes up the movie camera to tell her story.

Spanning 14 years, Sue Carpenter and Belmaya Nepali‘s feature-length documentary follows Belmaya’s transformational journey as she stands up to her husband and society, and reclaims her voice through filmmaking.

**** “IMMENSELY ENGAGING” – Sunday times
***** “SUPERB PORTRAIT” – UK Film Review    
**** “WONDERFUL DOCUMENTARY” – TOTAL FILM
“Such a raw, powerful film. one of the best documentaries i’ve ever seen” – the lancet
“A daring and heart-breaking film, which fills one with hope and admiration. Five shining stars from me” – Joanna Lumley

‘My heart is singing. It’s so refreshing to come across a real story. There’s no lies. You just speak the truth and this comes out so beautifully in the film.’
Thomas Kelly, Photographer and cinematographer

From He Named Me Malala to The Eagle Huntress and I Am Greta we see that young women are taking charge of their own destinies and educating the old world order on what can be achieved if we allow every human being their own opportunity of becoming. Now we can add to this list the superb portrait of a young Nepali woman lifting herself out of subjugation through photography and film-making, I Am Belmaya.
UK Film Review

‘I’m a huge fan of this film. An important and inspiring film about female empowerment – Belmaya proves that filmmaking can be life-changing for girls and women anywhere’  Anna Smith, Girls on Film Podcast

‘It’s absolutely amazing! The balance between the emotion, the humour, the entire narration … The way it shows empowerment is much different from anything I’ve ever seen. It’s a kind of fusion between an observational documentary as well as an interactive one, with snippets from her camera as well as [the observer’s]. The editing is just sensational’
Paribesh Sitoula, Media student

‘INCREDIBLE! It was quite a rollercoaster for my heart – from aching to full of joy, excitement, and pride for Belmaya. Such a beautiful and incredibly told story’ Kate Fahy, RAI Film Festival

‘I cried when I watched I Am Belmaya. Tears kept falling from my eyes’
Nhyoo Bajracharya, Musician and Nepal Idol judge

‘I was so emotional after it, I didn’t want to speak with anyone for at least half an hour! I loved the spirit that through all the struggles that Belmaya had, that zest she had to keep moving forward. I loved it!’
Shivangi Bansal, Art curator

‘Truly heartbreaking at times, and so affirming and sweet at others. I don’t think I will ever forget this person, in the same way I won’t forget some of Ken Loach’s characters or Don McCullin’s images’
Audience member, London

‘A warm and wonderful film.’
Timo Heinanen, Head of Camera, London Film School

‘I loved, loved, loved the film! It is a brilliant and beautiful film. I was completely engrossed and mesmerized’
Audience member, Project Didi Australia

‘That was the first time I’ve cried watching a film in quite some time. In the room there was this electricity. Everyone was there, in that story, in that journey’
Kalani Gacon, Documentary filmmaker