Kathmandu – Nepal’s Largest Indigenous Film Festival Concludes Successfully
The 5th Nepal Indigenous Nationalities Film Festival 2082—Nepal’s largest indigenous film festival—has successfully concluded in Kathmandu. Held on Ashar 6, 7, and 8, 2081 B.S. (corresponding to June 20–22, 2024) at the Film Development Board, the festival crowned the Limbu film “Che” as the winner of the Best Film Award.
The film Che was written and directed by Sagar Kerung, who also received the Best Director Award at the event. The film explores how the Yakthung Limbu community in Nepal has been internally and externally marginalized.
Previously, at the 3rd edition of the festival, Sagar Kerung’s film “Ke” also won the Best Film Award. That film focused on the issue of Nepal’s state-imposed ban on the national musical instrument Chyabrung (Ke) of the Limbu (Yakthung) people.
Sagar Kerung is a renowned and senior indigenous filmmaker of Nepal. His films—which he has written, directed, and produced—have won awards at international film festivals in countries such as the United States, Australia, South Korea, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, Norway, Japan, India, Turkey, Germany, and more.
Some of his notable indigenous films include: Pungsam, Ke, Tumyahang, Che, Amlarifung, Lojima, Sugup, Nakchhong, Thetlong, Helkukwa, Thokla, Thang, Tangsing, Sam, Yukpung, Surkepung, Saimundri, Mundhum, Sekmuri, Yebasam, Semifung, Mimlen Fung, among many others.
In addition to filmmaking, Sagar Kerung is the Central Chairperson of the Kirat Yakthung Chumlung Limbu Cultural Council, the apex cultural organization of the Yakthung Limbu community. He also serves as the President of the Yakthung Filmmakers’ Association, the umbrella organization for Limbu filmmakers.
He has previously served as the District President of the Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN) Panchthar chapter, playing a key role in leading Nepal’s indigenous rights movement. He is also a committed human rights activist and a respected figure in the field of peacebuilding. In 2067 B.S., he was appointed as the Chairperson of the District Peace Committee of Panchthar, under Nepal’s Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction.
Sagar Kerung holds the distinction of being the first Nepali indigenous person to travel abroad to pursue formal education in his own mother tongue. He earned his academic degree in the Yakthung language from Sikkim Alpine University, India.
With over 25 years of continuous involvement in the struggle for indigenous liberation, Sagar Kerung has traveled to many countries around the world. He has authored more than a dozen books in his native Yakthung language.
