The Historic 16th National Film Award of Bhutan

Bhutanese Film fraternity has travelled so far and achieved so much. The cinema in Bhutan was started as hobby by some Bhutanese who loved movies.  Now it has become full-fledged industry. For many it is source of their bread and butter while for lucky few, it is extra income and business. Contribution to Bhutan socio-economic development can be followings;

1.      Provision of employment for at least 200 people

2.      Preservation, promotion and experimentation of our  tangible and intangible culture

3.      Promotion of National Language

4.      Setting fashion trend

5.      Exposing Brand Bhutan to international audience

In journey about two decades, Bhutan movie industry has managed to phase out foreign movies from public screening while bigger countries like Nepal, Pakistan, and Bangladesh etc are unable to withstand onslaught of Bollywood movies. On top of that, Bhutanese Film Industry is able to carve niche market in some parts of India and even in Tibet, Bhutanese movies seem to be high demand.

Bhutan National Film Award is celebration of not only our film Industry’s success, it is celebration of our culture and way of life in ever changing world. The 16^th National Film Award was celebrated on 21^st February 2017 coinciding with Birth Anniversary of His Majesty The King of Bhutan. This film award this year was historic in sense that Prime Minister of Bhutan Lyonhen Tshering Tobgay graced the occasion and added three new awards with record prize of Nu. One million each-the Prime Minister’s Award Winner, 1^st Runners-Up and 2^nd Runners-Up.

This year, a total of 21 films competed for the awards in 31 categories.  Of total movies, 12 movies won at least one award. The movie ‘Tshorwa’ took the maximum awards at six followed by Pot of Gold, Bum Badha Chenmai Rigzin and Serga Mathang at five awards each. However, Tshorwa didn’t win many of major awards like Best Film, Director, Actor/Actress or Screenplay.

The best film went to Serga Mathang or Golden Girl Cousin--about practices of preferring first cousin (but not all first cousins qualify as golden cousin) for marriage in eastern Bhutan and how modern people view this practice). The golden cousin is son or daughter of your father’s sister’s children or your mother’s brother’s children. Your father’s brother’s children or your mother’s sister’s children don’t qualify as golden cousin.  The best actor award was given to Gyem Dorji, veteran local actor and former Member of Parliament. Tandin Biddha won her second best actress award for her unique role in Bum Badha Chenmai Rigzin. Best Director and Best Screen Play went to Kezang P Jigme for Serga Mathang. Tshorwa’s Sonam Dorji became highest individual award winners of the year (three awards) followed by veteran actors Gyem Dorji and Nidup Dorji, and Kezang P Jigme at two awards each.

However, the highlight of the National Film Award was institution of three new awards under name of Prime Minister’s Awards (as mentioned earlier). The prize money is highest in the history of Bhutan’s cinema. The prize money could be 1/3 of total budget of any Bhutanese movie. Serga Mathang won Prime Minister Award (by virtue of which it is also announced as Best Film) followed by Hum Chewai Zamling as 1^st Runner-Up and Thrung Thrung Karmo as 2^nd runner-up.

The Prime Minister award doesn’t seem to have any separate criteria than criteria for best film category. However, the reasons for instituting such award are said to be following;

1.      The name Prime Minister’s award seems to attract greater public reaction in international market

2.      To indirectly support  financially some of the best Bhutanese movies

3.      Motivate Bhutanese film makers to work hard.

But it is not known whether Prime Minister’s Awards will be given annually or not. Even if it does it is not sure three movies will get awards annually. Even Prize money doesn’t seem to be fixed amount.

The biggest award was received however by Film Industry as whole as the Prime Minister announce construction of movie halls in all twenty districts.

The details of awards and its winners are as follow;

Sl.no	Category	Winner
1	Actor Male	Gyem Dorji (Pot of Gold)
2	Actor Female	Tandin Bidha (BBCR)
3	Supporting Actor Male	Ugyen Dorji (SERGA MATHANG)
4	Supporting Actor Female	Sherab Lhamo (HUM CHEWAI ZAMLING)
5	New Comer Male	Tashi Penjor Dorji (POT OF GOLD)
6	New Comer Female	Deki Lhamo (POT OF GOLD)
7	Child Artist	Kuenzang Lhamo (LEKZIN)
8	Actor (Negative)	Nidup Dorji (BBCR)
9	Actor (Comic)	Gyem Dorji (POT OF GOLD)
10	Screenplay	Kesang P Jigme & Sangay (SERGA MATHANG)
11	Choerography	Karma Jerry (CHELLO DORJI)
12	Art Director	Nidup Dorji (BBCR)
13	Make up Artist	Sangay Dema (BBCR)
14	Cinematography	Sonam Dorji (TSHORWA)
15	Lighting	Tashi Dorji (TSHORWA)
16	Editor	Sonam Dorji (TSHORWA)
17	Animation	Droji Lethro (TSHOI GYALPO)
18	Visual Effect	Bishnu Kumar (DANGPHU DINGPHU)
19	Music Composer	Tashi Wangdi(Khakom Chu- BBCR)
20	Background Score	5MB Studio (TSHORWA)
21	Sound Desing	Sonam Dorji (TSHORWA)
22	Singer Male	Ugyen Dorji (Gaya Mi-KUENDHEN LHATSHO)
23	Singer Female	Tashi Dema (Gawi Hingtram- TSHORWA)
24	Youth & Education	DHARMA
25	Lyricist	Sherab Dorji(Sheyka Drali- POT OF GOLD)
26	Dzongkha	DANGPHU DINGPHU
27	Best Director	Kesang P Jigme (Serga Mathang)
28	Best Film	Serga Mathang
29	Prime Minister’s Award	Serga Mathang
30	1st Runners Up-Prime Minister’s Award	Hum Chewai Zamling
31	2nd Runners Up-Prime Minister’s Award	Thrung Thrung Karmo

Source: Bhutan Film Association Website