Dechen Roder’s “I, The Song” achieved a near clean sweep at Bhutan‘s National Film Awards, winning most of the major categories including best film, director, screenplay and acting honors.
The film had its world premiere at Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival, where Roder won best director, and its Asia premiere at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), Goa. In the film, to save her job and reputation, a school teacher travels to the south of Bhutan in search of her doppelganger, but as she becomes entangled in her lookalike’s life, she realizes she might be the only one to solve her doppelganger’s disappearance as well as recover a stolen sacred song.
The cast includes Tandin Bidha, Jimmie Wangyal Tshering, Tshering Dorji, Sonam Lhamo and Dorji Wangdi. The film is produced by Roder for Dakinny Productions (Bhutan) and Johann Chapelan for Girelle Production (France). It is co-produced by Fernanda Renno, Fidalgo Films (Norway), Stefano Centini, Volos Films (Taiwan, Italy), Paolo Maria Spina, Revolver (Italy), Mikaël Barre, Actarus Productions (France), Michaël Gauthier & Mathilde Solimeo and Follow Back Films (France) and Nyema Zam, Samuh (Bhutan).
This was the first year that the awards were organized by the Bhutan government. It was previously organized by the Film Association of Bhutan and the Bhutan InfoComm and Media Authority (BICMA) has taken it up from this year.
Honors for “I, The Song” at the awards include best film, best original score for Tashi Dorji, director, screenplay and editor for Roder, best actor in a leading role (female) for Tandin Bidha, best actor in a leading role (male) for Jimmy Wangyal Tshering (shared with Tshering Dorji for “Aum Penjor”) and best production designer for Pem Lham.
For “Aum Penjor,” Rinchen Gyeltshen clinched the sound design award while Sonam Yegaa Palden received the special jury award. For “Buelwa,” Jamyang Tenpa was honored as the best supporting actor (male). For “Jaza Lhamo,” Tshering Namgyal won for cinematography, Kesang Wangmo secured the supporting actor (female) accolade, and Ugyen Tashi took home the best lyrics award. “Jigtempe Tem” saw Tenzin Wangmo being recognized as the best female singer. Separately, the “Sheindrey” team swept multiple honors, winning the visual effects award, best makeup for Tshering Dema, best male singer for Sonam Wangchen, and best music composer for M Studio.
“It was a great surprise for us and big recognition since we were among some very popular (and personally I think very good) box office hits. So we really appreciate how the jury recognized something in our film and we are very honored,” Roder told Variety.
“It’s the first time ever that the Bhutanese government is organizing these awards and this is a very important initiative, something we were missing before – in Bhutan we had films and audiences but we never had the the third important element which is needed for any film culture and industry to grow and move forward- the critical analysis/critical recognition (with government support) so I think it’s great that it’s started here in Bhutan and we are super proud to be a part of of this new change and development in such a significant way,” Roder added.
“Though I don’t think our film will be a blockbuster, I think this kind of recognition will really help not only our film but the future of independent cinema in Bhutan, to add to the appreciation and awareness of alternative films, which are not necessarily better than the mainstream ones, but offer alternative perspectives, narratives and storytelling, increasing the diversity of voices in Bhutanese cinema. We’re excited here in Bhutan,” Roder said.
Diversion is handing international sales for “I, The Song.”
