North American Premiere
The future is looking bright for beautiful Pema when she marries into a family of three brothers – one still a boy, another a monk, and the third the charming, sweet-talking Tashi. But things get complicated when her beloved Tashi leaves for a remote trade deal only weeks into their marital bliss and she finds out that she’s pregnant. Once malicious rumours start to spread about the father of the child, Pema embarks on her own mission to set the record straight and clear her name.
Shambhala marks Min Bahadur Bham’s long-awaited return eight years after his feature debut, The Black Hen. At once a love story, a tale of empowerment and an ethnographic record, this captivating, transcendental odyssey takes one into the heart of the Himalayas and its vibrant, yet complex communities weighed down by ancient social customs. The director applies a gentle touch and thoughtful contemporary lens to highlight the beauty and cultural complexity of his native land.
At once a spiritual odyssey and a more concrete journey of female self-determination, this is a visually magnificent slow-burner filmed high in the Himalayas.
Jonathan Romney, Screen International Reviewed
Presented by
Media Partner
Community Partner
Thinley Lhamo, Sonam Topden, Tenzin Dalha, Karma Wangyal Gurung, Karma Shakya, Loten Namling
Nepal/France/Norway/Turkey/
Hong Kong/Taiwan/USA/Qatar
2024
In Tibetan and Nepalese with English subtitles
At VIFF Centre
At Fifth Avenue
Book Tickets
Indigenous & Community Access
Credits & Director
Executive Producer
Debaki Rai, Liao Ching-Sung, Roger Huang, Ruben Thorkildsen, Can Aygor, Salina Shakya
Producer
Min Bahadur Bham
Screenwriter
Min Bahadur Bham, Abinash Bikram Shah
Cinematography
Aziz Jan Baki
Editor
Liao Ching-Sung, Kiran Shrestha
Production Design
Ramlal Khadka
Original Music
Nhyoo Bajracharya
Min Bahadur Bham
Nepalese filmmaker Min Bahadur Bham holds master’s degrees in Buddhist philosophy and political science while pursuing a PhD in anthropology. His short, Bansulli (2012), was Nepal’s first entry to the Venice IFF, followed by his debut feature Kalo Pothi (2015), which won the FEDEORA Best Film Award at Venice Critics Week and became Nepal’s official Oscar entry. Acknowledged for nurturing emerging talent, his productions have graced festivals like — Venice, Berlinale, Rotterdam, and Busan. His second feature, Shambhala (2024), made history as Nepal’s first film in the Berlinale Competition section.
Filmography: Kalo Pothi (2015)
Photo by Angad Dhakal
Missing VIFF? Check out what's playing at the VIFF Centre
Who by Fire
Jeff, a 17-year-old aspiring filmmaker, goes on vacation with his friend Max and his family to an isolated lodge. Philippe Lesage’s film is a tense, mesmerizing tour de force that is both agonizing and cathartic. A Berlinale award winner.
The Holdovers
Destined to become a seasonal staple, this bittersweet comedy reunites Sideways director and star Alexander Payne and Paul Giamatti in the portrait of a surly classics teacher forced to babysit five "orphans" at boarding school over the holidays.
Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
Aardman Animation's handcrafted mix of dad jokes, slapstick, mock dramatics and understated emotion makes this return for the claymation odd couple a constant delight. The villainous Feathers McGraw is back to no good, commandeering Norbot the robot. Rated: G
It's a Wonderful Life
Every time a bell rings, an angel gets its wings. This Christmas classic is whimsical, sure, but it has the depth to stand up to multiple watches, and it really should be a communal experience, because that is what it's about. Rated: G
The Count of Monte Cristo
You can't beat this evergreen Alexandre Dumas tale for adventure, intrigue and romance. This lavish French blockbuster from the writers of the recent Three Musketeers movies pulls you in from the first scene and doesn't let off for the next three hours. Rated: PG