The inauguralWorld Culture Film Festivalin Los Angeles has found itself impacted by a dangerous storm half a world away.
So Im coming to you guys live from Bhutan.
Whatever you saw in this film, its all true events, Dorji said.
World Culture Film Festival
Other Himalayan countries, they make millions of dollars by letting people climb Mt.
Everest, K-2, Annapurna, Kangchejunga.
But in Bhutan, we dont allow mountain climbing.
Filmmaker Pawo Choyning Dorji joins the World Culture Film Festival via Zoom from Bhutan.Matthew Carey
We are a big tourist destination, but we have a tariff on tourism.
So, its quality over quantity.
It has made us the only carbon negative country in the world.
Ban Ki-Moon, to U.S.
Yes, media, entertainment, cinema has such a deep impact on people and peoples minds.
Can we make this a tool to uplift the human consciousness?
Ravi Shankar asked, as he joined the WCFF audience on the festivals opening night.
Can we make movies a medium to bring more happiness to people, more belongingness among people?
Can we do that?
He added, Movies have to be uplifting because movies do create role models.
Unfortunately, negative emotions are confused or taken as an identity for macho-ness or valor or heroism.
Every child wants to be a hero.
She or he wants to be a hero.
And that role model, is it serving its purpose?
Is it uplifting the human mind?
This is what we need to do.
Dorji shot both films in Bhutan.
Most of them are playing themselves.
The village lama is actually a village lama…
The villagers are all playing themselves, as well.
But when theyre not making films, they are cooks, waiters, just doing odd jobs.
And thats how our industry is.
Dorji saidThe Monk and the Gunis really about innocence.
And were getting disconnected with that because of worldly values.
