Kathmandu: The North South Collectives, a Biratnagar-based research foundation, announced the cohort for its flagship project ‘Gograha Film Workshop 2021’ on September 18. The cohort includes 16 members and features an equal number of males and females.
Shanta Nepali, program manager for the Gograha Film Workshop, informed that 147 aspiring filmmakers and storytellers applied to be part of the workshop. “The applicants were from Jhapa to Mustang, from Bajhang to Saptari, and Nepalis studying and working abroad,” she said.
Nepali also elaborated on the selection process stressing that it was difficult for the jury to select only 12 applicants as announced earlier which is the reason why the team decided on selecting 16 applicants instead. She further said that the applicants were from a wide array of fields like photography, music, creative writing, translation, editing, acting, theater, and filmmaking.
Nepali thanked the 147 applicants for being interested in the workshop. “Our selection in no way discourages the applicants, nor undermines their skill sets and accomplishments,” she said.
The process of selection included a shortlisting of 147 applicants to 30. The 30 shortlisted applicants were then interviewed by the selection team to get a better understanding of their backgrounds, work interests, and their approach towards cinematic storytelling.
Deepak Rauniyar, director and one of the resource persons for the workshop, took to Twitter to respond to criticism regarding the selection team’s decision to choose an equal number of males and females. “The Gograha (filmmaking workshop) is committed to promoting diversity and nurturing diverse life experiences and idea-worlds,” he said. “This is our primary aim and we are here to act accordingly rather than reinforce dominant values.”
The 16 member cohort for 2021 includes documentary editor and assistant director of Film Southasia Alok Adhikari, singer-songwriter Bartika Rai, photographer Bunu Dhungana, filmmaker Kiran Rai, media producer Nikita Tripathy, actress Pashupati Rai, filmmaker Prabin Purukoti, founder of Humans of Medico Puja Yadav, aspiring filmmaker Rakshya Thapa, filmmaker and artist Sandeep Shrestha, writer Sandesh Ghimire, video editor Sandesh Pariyar, aspiring storyteller Shahin Sunuwar Rasaili, actor Sudam Chhatkuli, scriptwriter Suresh Mukhiya, and documentary filmmaker Tsering Bista.
Nepali also thanked the 147 applicants for being interested in the Gograha Film Workshop. “Our selection in no way discourages the applicants, nor undermines their skill sets and accomplishments,” she said.
Comment