Movie industry aching for theatres

Source: Bhutan Observer

30 December 2009

The Bhutanese movie industry is burgeoning, but not movie theatres.

On average, 18 movies are produced in a year. The number is expected to increase. But there has not been any increase in the number of movie halls, which are concentrated in a few dzongkhags like Thimphu and Phuentsholing.

Two movie halls in Thimphu and one in Phuentsholing are bursting at their seams. For producers, the wait for movie halls has run into several frustrating months. However, Thimphu and Phuentsholing are better off than rest of the dzongkhags where movie halls are non-existent.

The General Secretary of Motion Picture Association of Bhutan, Sherub Gyaltshen, said the biggest challenge faced by producers outside Thimphu and Phuentsholing is lack of movie halls. Producers have to look for multipurpose halls of schools and conference halls that lead to many problems for schools as well as producers.

General Secretary said that producers are forced to wait for a theater for at least seven to eight months. He added that it was not a problem with film industries outside the country, only in Bhutan.

Previously, movie halls in Thimphu and Phuentsholing allowed a movie to be screened for more than a month. Now that the waiting list has grown longer, one movie can be screened for 22 days only.

Full feature here

Some facts of Bhutan film industry

Source: MPAB

1. First film - Gasa Lamai Singye (Ugetsu communications, 1988), Phama (Pelvision, 1995)
2. First blockbuster - Jigdrel (Norling, 1998)
3. Bhutanese film industry was born – (Motion Pictures Association of Bhutan – MPAB, 1999)
4. National film awards instituted in 2001
5. As of 2008, 116 films produced
6. 390 music albums (approx)

1. 82 registered members
2. 14 production houses (established offices)
3. 14 music recording studios
4. Members – two eminent Rinpoches, ex-police officer, militia officers, engineers, accomplished monks and people from other walks of life

1. Three major international film awards and nominations (Venice, Telluride, Toronto, Cannes)   
2. Eight major documentary awards (Tokyo, New York, Seoul, Munich, Trento, Basel, KL, Tehran)
3. Huge publicity for Bhutan
4. Travellers & Magicians viewed by over 10 million
5. School Among Glaciers viewed by 2.8 million in Japan and 1.1 million people in Korea
6. Rockin’ the Himalayan Kingdom viewed by 1 million people in the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg (Top ten documentary on Dutch TV in 2006)

1. Capturing the local market (since February 2005, Bhutanese films have taken the prime time in Lugar Theatre)
2. Even in countries like France, Italy & Britain, Hollywood dominates
3. New Zealand and Canada film industry produce 3-4 films in a year
4. In 2004 entertainment sector (films & CaTV) was 12th highest contributor in tax

Garbage in Thimphu

Thinley Tobgay and Zuki Nima
BhutanYouthMedia

Sergi Zhong

Source: Bhutan Observer

Sergi Zhongm is a debut production of Heruka Media Production and directorial debut of Tawchu Rabgay, a popular actor. The producer has invested Nu 1.5 million and took 14 days to complete the shooting.

A ccording to Palden Dorji, the director of photography, shooting a song is more time-consuming than other scenes. “To shoot a complete song, the average time taken is three days,” he said.

When we shoot songs, we have to carry a generator, a music system, a speaker and a crane with seven technical people as crew members to different locations, according to Palden Dorji.

The shooting of Sergi Zhongm is complete. The film will now enter the post-production phase.

Read full feature here

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