Beyul: The Sacred Hidden Valleys

This documentary is filmed in the Khumbu valley located at the foot of Mt. Everest. The film introduces traditional Sherpa views of the Beyul as a sacred space, co-habited by many other natural and supernatural beings, where negative thoughts and actions such as quarreling, polluting, and taking life are discouraged because the place is considered spiritually powerful. It is these positive attitudes and self restraint on part of the people that made Khumbu not only a peaceful place for people to live and visit but also a safe refuge for wild animals and plants. The sympathetic attitudes of Beyul believers supported most Beyuls to become national parks and protected areas. The role of the ancient belief system in conservation however has received little recognition, and the modern approach do not take into account the value of the indigenous knowledge and the Beyul values. This film reveals both the strength of the Beyul concept in maintaining environmental and cultural integrity of a place as well as the vulnerability of concepts to change.

Festivals & Screenings

2008    Nepal International Indigenous Film Festival, Kathmandu, Nepal
2008    Various Workshops, Nepal
2009    Guimet, Paris, France
2009    Vancouver Nepali Film Festival, Canada
2010    Bansko International Film Festival for Mountains, Extreme Sports and Adventures
2011    Skabmagovat Film Festival, Finland