University of Washington, 317 Thompson Hall – Tuesday, October 10th – 4:00 PM
NEPAL EARTHQUAKE: HEROES, SURVIVORS AND MIRACLES: In 2015, two devastating earthquakes struck Nepal. Ganesh Panday has created a documentary depicting the miraculous survivals of those who escaped death. The film is a historical document that vividly portrays the horrifying picture of the devastating situation in Nepal caused by the earthquake and the scars (both physical and psychological) left on the Nepalese people.
RADIO MELAMCHI 107.2: Radio Melamchi 107.2 is a documentary about a community-based FM station situated at Dubachaur, Sindhupalchowk and its post-earthquake efforts to help the people of Nepal.
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Nepal Earthquake: Heroes, Survivors, and Miracles, Ganesh Panday, 2015, Nepali, 45 min
On April 25, 2015, at 11:56 local time, a devastating (7.8) earthquake struck Nepal with an epicenter in Barpak, a village of Gorkha district (144 km northwest) of Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal. The earthquake left 9,000 dead and many more injured; hundreds of people are still missing, internally displaced, and homeless due to the deadly quake that destroyed more than half a million houses.The earthquake severely affected 14 out of 75 districts of Nepal, in the central and western regions that include hilly and mountainous regions and the Kathmandu valley. On May 12, another powerful earthquake struck Nepal with an epicenter in Dolakha district (75 km east from Kathmandu), during which many historic buildings collapsed, temples were ruined, roads were destroyed, and transportation was halted, leaving the life of people completely paralyzed.
This documentary contains live footage of Dharahara, a nine-storied ancient monument that crumbled down into rubble because of the tremor, and includes the stories of four-month-old Sonis Awal, who was rescued alive 22 hours after being buried under the rubble of his five-story house; Babita Sedhai, who beat death despite falling down from Dharahara; Pemba Tamang, who was rescued after being trapped for 112 hours; and ninth-grader Priya BK, who lost her leg, among others. The documentary also features interviews with Armed Police Force Inspector Laxman Basnet who rescued many people alive; Nepal Army’s Deepak Rai and Bikas KC, who rescued baby Sonis; and National Poet Laureate Madhav Prasad Ghimire, who survived both the 1934 and 2015 earthquakes.
Director Bio
Ganesh Panday is a young, award-winning Nepali filmmaker. He has directed and produced more than ten feature award-winning documentaries. He won the Best Documentary Award and Public Choice Awards for his documentary, Nepal Earthquake: Heroes, Survivors and Miracles (Bhagyale Bachekaharu) at the Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival. This film has won 15 international award and has been selected for screening in more than 32 countries. The film has premiered in popular film festivals around the world.
Press & Awards
Best Documentary Award, Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival (KIMFF), December 2015 Public Choice Award, Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival (KIMFF), December 2015 Best Documentary Award, Shimla International Film Festival, India
Best International Documentary Award, Nashik International Film Festival, India
Best Documentary Award, Edinburgh Nepali Film Festival, UK
Best Documentary Jury Award, Noida International Film Festival, India
Jury Award, Vaasa Wildlife Nature Film Festival, Finland
Golden Phoenix Award, Malaysia
Dada Saheb Phalke Award, India (Nashik International Film Festival, India)
Best Documentary Award, Dhaka International Film Festival, Jan, 2017
Best Director Award, Rajasthan International Film Festival, Jan 2017.
Silver Bodhisattva Award, Bodhisattva International Film Festival, India, Feb, 2017
Radio Melamchi 107.2, Rajeela Shrestha, 2015, Nepali, 5 min
Radio Melamchi 107.2 is a documentary about Radio Melamchi, a community based FM station situated at Dubachaur, Sindhupalchowk. This documentary is all about how Radio Melamchi helped the people as a media after the massive earthquake hit Nepal on April 25, 2015, while also being victims themselves.
Director Bio
Radio Melamchi 107.2 was directed by Rajeela Shrestha.
Press & Awards
Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival (December 2015)
Toronto Nepal Film Festival (April 2017)
IAWRT Women’s Film Festival, Nepal (April 2017)