Bhutan youth wins international short film award
A four-minute film made by 24-year-old Yeshey Namgyal, a trainee from rural Bhutan, will receive the PLURAL+ Insight Prize 2014 at a ceremony in Paley Media Center, New York City, on Thursday, 4 December.
Yeshey has been part of the ‘Saving 100 Youth’ programme run by YMC, a non-profit NGO offering media skills to disadvantaged young people in his home city of Thimphu. Flying to New York City from his worlds-apart Bhutan home was beyond his resources, so the Insight Film Festival launched a crowd-funding online campaign that inspired donations from supporters across the world.
Yeshey’s life-affirming film, ‘My Paralympic Dream’, is about his remarkable friend, Pema Tshering, who has achieved more in his life than many can imagine. Pema lives with cerebral palsy and uses his feet to live an independent life making beautiful wood carvings. He shares the dream that his archery skills may one day lead him further.
The award is offered by the Insight Film Festival, a not-for-profit community interest company, in association with PLURAL+, an initiative of the United Nations Alliance of Civilisations. Insight exists to encourage filmmakers of all faiths and none to make films about faith.
Insight director, John Forrest says: ‘Yeshey’s short film is really inspiring and shows an aspect of the triumph of faith over adversity. The story of how Yeshey came to make the film and his subsequent visit to New York City is also a compelling story and a fascinating journey. We shall be delighted to present the Award to him.’
The Insight Film Festival, based in Manchester, England, encourages filmmakers to make films that address the theme of faith.
The PLURAL+ Youth Video Festival (hosted by the United Nations Alliance of Civilisations and the International Organisation for Migration) invites the world’s youth to submit original and creative videos less than 4 minutes long that focus on the themes: migration, diversity and social inclusion.
The PLURAL+ Insight Award rewards the best film that encompasses elements of faith, migration, diversity and social inclusion.
See the award winning film below