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DOC-TALK
DOC-TALK is a two day educational event that celebrates the magic of creative documentaries.
The first iteration of Doc Talk showcased two feature length Nepali documentaries followed by in-depth conversation with the makers, and also screened eight short documentaries by young Nepali filmmakers.
Event DOC TALK- Discover the Magic of Creative Documentaries
Date and Time: 5 & 6 May 2023, 3 pm FREE ADMISSION
The first iteration of Doc Talk was a glaring success. Details below.
DAY 1: MAY 5
URMI
“Urmi” tells the story of Purna Gurung, a British Gurkha veteran who was serving abroad when his only son Bimal died in an accident back home. To honor his son’s memory, Purna converted his house into a public library. Now, 34 years later, Purna faces immense financial and social pressure to sell the property and retire. However, he is grappling with a greater dilemma: having been an absentee father, Purna yearns to connect with his deceased son before it’s too late. Through Purna’s unwavering determination to preserve his son’s legacy by keeping the library intact, the film explores themes of grief, loss, and the power of remembrance.
DIRECTOR: PRANAY LIMBU
The screening was followed by a conversation with director Pranay Limbu, a screenwriter and filmmaker based in Kathmandu known for notable works like “History for Winners” (2003), “Forgive! Forget Not!” (2006), “Satisaal in Inferno” (2018), and “The Sponsor” (2023). Among Nepali documentary filmmakers, Pranay’s works are easily distinguished by his experimentation with syntax, form, and storytelling. Pranay is a former fellow at the Documentary Centre of George Washington University, and his latest film “Niyati” is currently in post-production.
MODERATOR: SEWA BHATTARAI
The conversation was moderated by Sewa Bhattarai, a freelance journalist with past experiences in Republica, BBC Nepali Service, Nepali Times, SBS Radio, and other media. In her decade of reporting, she has focused extensively on the arts of Nepal, including music, films, literature, and fine art. Currently, she is pursuing a research project about Nepal’s earliest recorded music.
DAY 2: MAY 6
BEFORE YOU WERE MY MOTHER
“Before You Were My Mother” follows the story of Prasuna, a woman in her thirties who longs to understand her mother, Ibemhal. Born and raised in Manipur, Ibemhal moved to Nepal after marriage and dedicated her life to raising Prasuna and her sister. But who is Ibemhal beyond her identity as a mother and a wife? When Ibemhal visits Prasuna in Nepal in 2020, they take a trip to Manipur to visit Ibemhal’s mother. As Prasuna navigates the conflict-ridden socio-political environment she was raised in and patriarchal expectations, she tries to come to terms with the differences she has with her mother and seeks a way to define her own life. This 73-minute observational documentary explores the complex relationship between mothers and daughters and unearths layers of their childhood, youth, and past traumas.
DIRECTOR: PRASUNA DONGOL
The film’s director, Prasuna Dongol, is a Kathmandu-based documentary filmmaker and DocLab Coordinator at KIMFF. She’s a Filmmaker Mentor for the Camera Sika project and a 2021 Filmmaker Fellow of One World Media’s Global Short Doc Forum. Prasuna’s work explores collective memory and personal experiences, and her documentary “Dolpa Diary” has been screened at numerous film festivals winning multiple accolades. “Before you were my mother” is Prasuna’s Debut feature film.
MODERATOR: SHUVANGI KHADKA
The conversation was moderated by Shuvangi Khadka, an independent writer and filmmaker based in Kathmandu, Nepal.
SHORT DOC SHOW
MAY 5
Bearer of Glass Beads
Pratibha PantLalita
Pushpa Joshi & Angela ChaudharyThrough the Singing Villages
Samrat KhanalMero Buwa
Shrisha Kunwar & Angela ChaudharyMAY 6
Mother’s School
Shuvangi KhadkaOne Rupee
Mira Khadka & Asmita LawatiDrifting Clouds
Deepa ShresthaYatra
Sahayog Raj Adhikari & LSMFULL LIST OF ORGANIZERS
ORGANIZERS
Sunir Pandey
Abhimanyu Dixit
Sejol Pradhanang
DESIGNER
Suneha Shrestha
DCP INCHARGE
Sanjeev Ratna Shakya
TECHNICAL COORDINATORS
Safal Karki
Sandesh ChauhanVOLUNTEERS
David Basnet
Sabin Luitel
Prerana Subedi
Rajasi Niraula
Subrishti Karki
Sushmita BogatiEVENT RECEPTION
The program was free to attend, with audiences required to register online. Doc Talk saw a total of 102 online registrations. Additionally, around 60 more individuals registered on the spot.120 individuals attended the event.
After the main program concluded, a networking session commenced at the Kasturi Cafe, 5th floor of the same building.
This program is supported by a grant through Global Media Makers, a partnership between Film Independent and the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
Global Media Makers is a cultural exchange program designed to foster relationships between American and international film professionals through comprehensive filmmaker education, business training, professional networking opportunities and tailored mentorships.