Kathmandu, The documentary "Chasing the Dream," directed by journalist Pradip Pokhrel, has been selected for the International Film Festival of Shimla, India, scheduled to run from August 14 to 16 in Himachal Pradesh.
Now in its 10th edition, the festival will showcase films, documentaries, and short films from a diverse range of countries, including Nepal, India, the USA, the UK, New Zealand, France, South Korea, Iran, Turkey, Greece, Portugal, and Egypt, among others, according to the festival's official website.
"Chasing the Dream" follows the life of Lakpa Dhundup Lama, who returns to his native village after spending years abroad. Originally from Namrung village in Chumanubri Rural Municipality, North Gorkha, Nepal, Lakpa left for Kathmandu in his youth in search of better opportunities. After some years in Kathmandu, he moved to Singapore, where he worked for nearly 17 years, traveling to over 50 countries during his career.
The documentary captures Lakpa's return to his village after two decades, where he confronts the challenges faced by his community. Moved by the poor conditions of the villagers, he decides to stay and spearhead the development of tourism in the northern region of Gorkha, particularly around the Manaslu area.
While abroad, the lama of Serang Gumba, a revered pilgrimage site in the region, passed away. After Lakpa’s return, the Lama Guru reincarnates and comes back to the monastery, attracting thousands of villagers to Serang Gumba in celebration.
Inspired by these events, Lakpa commits to staying in the village and launching new initiatives.
Lakpa starts a cultural preservation campaign, establishing a Himalayan museum and gathering thousands of traditional artifacts. He also launches the Nubri Four Seasons Resort, located on the renowned Manaslu trekking trail , offering guests a unique experience of Himalayan art, culture, and lifestyle.
To address the growing impacts of climate change in the Himalayas, Lakpa plants apple trees across 40 acres of land and encourages villagers to do the same. The orchard, now a thriving tourist attraction, has also become a source of livelihood for the villagers, producing apple brandy and various apple-based dishes. His efforts have not only revived the local economy but also proved that it is possible to earn a living while staying in the village, a central theme in "Chasing the Dream."
This marks Pradip's 12th documentary selected for an international film festival. His first documentary, "In God’s Heart-Land," premiered at the Kathmandu International Film Festival (KIMFF) in 2009. Other notable works include "Snow-Leopard Scout" (2014) and "Rising for Epicenter" (2015), which won awards at KIMFF. His documentary "A Song for Barpak" won the ICIMOD Best Mountain Film Award in 2017 and was selected for the DMZ International Documentary Film Festival in South Korea. It also won the Best Documentary Award at the Dhaka International Film Festival.
In 2018, "Post-Earthquake Rebuilt in the Himalayas" was also selected for KIMFF. Most recently, in January 2024, Pradip's documentary on snow leopard conservation, "Snow Leopard," won an award at the Sauraha South Asia Film Festival. His work has been recognized at numerous international festivals across Europe and Asia, earning him multiple awards.
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