Kathmandu : Four filmmakers from Nepal have been selected for the Berlinale Talent competition under the world-renowned Berlin International Film Festival this year. Out of 200 talents selected from 3,438 applications from 120 countries, Janaki Kadayat, Ramkrishna Pokharel, Ngima Gelu Sherpa and Rina Moktan have been selected from Nepal.
 |
| Photo: Social Media |
'We are very happy to present the Talent of 2026 here. In this group of talents, we have included such
different voices who are becoming carriers of change through their work, which
includes many talents, from award winners,' the festival said in a statement.
Janaki Kadayat, Ramkrishna Pokharel, Nima Gelu Sherpa and
Rina Moktan have been selected from Nepal for the Berlinale Talent competition
under the Berlin International Film Festival.
This prestigious platform has selected 200 talents from 3,438 applications from 120 countries, in which these four filmmakers from Nepal will represent them in various categories.
The festival, which will be held in Berlin, Germany from
February 12, will provide opportunities for workshops,
interactions and networking.
The platform under this festival, which will be held in
Berlin, Germany from February 12, has
selected talents representing 15
different areas of the film industry, according to a press release. The
platform conducts workshops, interactions and networking in the relevant
categories. This platform, which connects filmmakers from around the world and
collaborates in creative work, has more than 10,000 'alumni' so far. This year's slogan of this platform is
'Creating (and) Confusion - Cinema, Case and the Power'.
Last year, Sushant Shrestha and Sushan Prajapati were
selected for this platform. This year, Ramkrishna Pokharel has been selected
for 'Producing'. Ramkrishna has produced many foreign films. The platform's
'networking' prompted Ramakrishna to apply for talent. 'There is a lot of
networking in talent. It is a pleasure to be a part of that networking. I get
to meet 200 filmmakers at talent,' Pokhrel said.
He had already participated in Berlin before. He has been
to Berlin's 'Film Market' EFM (European Union Market) three times. Ramakrishna
was going to Berlin to build relationships with filmmakers who come to that
market from all over the world. 'The market where filmmakers from all over the
world come has become very important for me as a producer. Moreover, people
gather there with projects that are in the process of being made in that
market,' said Ramakrishna. 'As a production company, it is important for me to
keep going there.'
Ramakrishna's Icefall Productions has so far produced
many foreign films, Nepali short films, and feature films. He produced 'Anhad'
and 'Baghthan', which were selected in Rotterdam. The Oscar-qualified 'The
Silent Echo' was also produced by Icefall. He also produced Tatini (Busan),
directed by Avinash Vikram Shah. In the Nepali feature film category, 'Katha 72', 'The Red Follows', 'Halkara', 'Aina Jhyalko Putali',
'The Red Suitcase' and 'Guraans' were also produced by Icefall. In the
international category, 'A Mountain to Climb', 'Highway to Dhampus' (French),
'The Climb' (Netflix), 'Everest Summit of the Gods' (Japan), and Liam Nissen's
'Ice Road' were also produced by Ramakrishna's production company.
Ramakrishna made his debut in films in 2002, working as a camera assistant in the National
Geographic documentary 'The Last Royals'. After working as an operations
manager in a trekking company for 9
years, Pokhrel graduated in film from the College of Film Studies (now Oscar).
After studying film for 3
years, Ramakrishna opened Icefall Productions and started producing films. This
company initially produced Vinod Poudel's 'Awaken Eyes' and Manobabu Pant's
'Where is the Story'. Ramakrishna says that these two films paved the way for
the international market at that time.
Janaki Kadayat has been selected for costume design. She
is the first to be selected under this title announced by Berlin for the first
time. Janaki had already learned about Berlinale Talent from close film-maker friends.
She always had the desire to become a talent. However, Berlin had not
previously announced talent in 'costume design'. However, this time, friend and
actress Gaumaya Gurung informed Janaki that talent applications were open for
costumes. After that, she applied. Now, Janaki is shocked to see her name among
200 talents on such a big platform in the world.
'Our costumes are not given any importance anywhere. Film
festivals also organize programs for various departments such as sound and
production design. However, our department was always missing out on it,'
Janaki said, 'This time Berlin also opened applications for costumes. I always
felt that we could have targeted such programs. I got that opportunity this
time, I am very happy.'
Janaki received the news that
she had been selected as a talent while she was shooting for the film
'Lalibazar'. 'Initially, I didn't believe it. But when I found out that it was
true. I was tired from shooting, but this news made me happy,' Janaki said.
Janaki, who completed her diploma from ISC (Fashion School) in 2014, took a
step into films by doing science with filmmaker Keshav Pandey. Janaki, who has
been working in films as a costume designer for 11 years, has worked in films
including 'Aina Jhyalko Putali', 'Singh Durbar 2', 'Rajaganj', 'Shape of Momo',
'Hari Bahadurko Jutta', 'Mahapurush', 'Maitighar', 'Mahajatra'. She says that
costumes are important in films. 'If there is no costume, how can a character
be considered a character? If he is a doctor, a lawyer, then a costume is
needed. "Since the costume itself says that he is a lawyer, he doesn't
have to keep saying that he is a lawyer," said Janaki, "The costume
itself shows a character. I design costumes using color theory according to the
color palette and emotion."
Ngima Gelu Sherpa, who has
been teaching film at Kathmandu University (KU) for 3 years, has been selected
for the second time on this platform. Previously selected in directing (2023),
he has been selected this time in 'Doc Station' through his under-production
documentary. He has been selected in talent through his feature documentary
titled 'Tent City and I'. He is including characters who reach the Everest base
camp in this documentary.
He teaches three subjects at
KU, including 'Film Production', 'Introduction to Cinema Studies', and
'Documentary Film Appreciation'. The short film 'As the Day Goes By' (2024)
directed by him premiered at the Uppsala Film Festival in Sweden. Nima, who has
a 2-year master's degree in film, made a short film titled 'Adaptation' when he
was a student. After that, he made the short documentaries Home (2021),
Kathmandu Monsoon (2022), and Phool Siri (2016). Nima is active in film
teaching as well as film directing. Ngima is excited to be selected for talent
with his film. 'As excited as I was when I went for the first time, I am going
with my debut feature now. I am very excited in that sense,' said Ngima.
This year, Kantipur
journalist Moktan has been selected for 'Critic'. Moktan, who has been writing
about film, theater, and music in Kantipur for 6 years, is the female vice
president of the Film Critics Society.
