Belmaya's two films have won a third set of laurels! They'll be showing at the NHRIFF this week, in company with some of the best international human rights documentaries on recent release. From the programme:
WOW Kathmandu!
Belmaya has arrived in Kathmandu to prepare for the WOW Festival this Saturday 17 Feb. She'll be an inspirational speaker at this brilliant celebration of Women of the World, organised by the British Council Nepal and Jude Kelly (who has left WOW's original home, the Southbank Centre in London, to take WOW to the world). It's …
Belmaya in Republica newspaper, Nepal
Belmaya's story has sparked the imagination of both the filmmaking and media community in Nepal. Here is the latest article about her, in Republica, the national English-language daily newspaper.
Belmaya in the Nepal media
Belmaya is in Kantipur, Nepal's leading national newspaper. I can't read Nepali, and Google Translate makes the wildest of stabs at it. (Belmaya's film Educate Our Daughters comes out as The Aggressive Daughters!) But judging by the comments on journalist Deepak Pariyar's Facebook page, Belmaya's story comes over as 'heart-touching' and inspiring.
Screening success at KIMFF
Belmaya's films were screened to a highly appreciative international audience - many of them experienced filmmakers - at the Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival. Ramyata Limbu, KIMFF Director, thanked Belmaya for submitting her films to KIMFF. 'Belmaya is a growing filmmaker and a young talent, and at KIMFF we believe that we need to hear more …
Belmaya in the Nepali national press
Two days before her films are due to premiere at the Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival (KIMFF), Belmaya features in the Nepali Times. She has been getting into the spirit of KIMFF, standing up and asking questions during the Q&A sessions with directors. Tomorrow she will attend a documentary masterclass with The Islands and the …
Ten years ago
An early selfie of Sue and Belmaya, when she was 14 years old.
Winner of Green Room grant!
Yet more good news! I'm excited and honoured to be a first-round grantee of The Green Room's Filmmaker Fund - one of just four winners out of more than 400 submissions. Much gratitude to Green Room founders Kosta Nikas and Peter Lord and the illustrious jurors - including HBO Vice President Stephen Beres - for recognising the …
Belmaya’s films selected for KIMFF!
Belmaya and I are beside ourselves with excitement! Not just one, but both of her short films, Educate Our Daughters and Rowing Against the Flow, have been selected for the Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival (KIMFF) 2017. This is an amazing accolade for a first-time filmmaker, especially one who has had no advantages in life, …
A virtual hello!
Very happy to catch up with Belmaya, now 25, and Bipana, who's about to turn 5 years old, via Skype. Both are in fine form. Belmaya is longing to get back to filming, but needs a regular income just to make ends meet and keep Bipana in school. I have a plan, in the form …
