User:Mr Karma Tshering/sandbox

Karma Tshering’s Bio

Karma Tshering is one of Bhutan’s first artists trained in the field of filmmaking from film institutes in India, Japan and USA and directed Bhutan’s first commercial movie “Jigdrel” in 1997. The promoter is also the recipient of the very first “Best Film Director Award” for the film “Chepai Bu” during the first National Film Awards in 2001, followed by another “Best Film Director Award” for the film “6 Boys” based on a true story in 2002. Besides making feature films, the promoter has produced numerous documentary films for the government, NGOs and international organizations. To further enhance skills in filmmaking, the promoter worked in a Bollywood film project, “Badhai Ho Badhai” shot in Mumbai and Delhi in the year 2002. On 16th Feb. 2006, The promoter was awarded a Life Membership by the International Film and Television Club in India. From 2004 to 2008, the promoter has worked as the “Director of Production” in a five year Sacred Dance Research and Documentation Project under “The Dragon’s Gift Project” a collaboration project between the Ministry of Home & Culture, Royal Government of Bhutan and Honolulu Academy of Arts, USA. The promoter’s activities included not only rendering audiovisual consultancy services to the project, but also Production Design in Remote Areas and other critical functions. The promoter also had the opportunity to coordinate a one day Cham festival in Honululu, Hawaii, USA. Her Royal Highness Princess Sonam Dechan Wangchuck graced the event. Dancers from Youngdrung Choeling in Trongsa were flown to Hawaii to perform at the event. In 2007, the promoter received a “Rockefeller Award” (cash prize of USD 10,000) from the Asian Cultural Council in New York, USA for his contribution in preserving the ancient sacred dances of Bhutan through the visual medium. Four months later, the promoter had the opportunity to organize a three days sacred dance festival “Tercham Festival” in Yungdrung Choeling in Trongsa, seat of the 1st King of Bhutan, where dancers from all Pema Lingpa traditions in the country were invited for a three days sacred dance research and evaluation event in 2007. To provide a forum for young Bhutanese women to display their skills and talents, and to advance their careers, the promoter has founded “Miss Bhutan Pageant”, Bhutan’s first beauty pageant show in 2008. The following year, the promoter founded Bhutan’s first women’s magazine “Yeewong”, an initiative to address issues relating to women and children. On 11th November, 2011, with generous support, guidance, encouragement and wisdom from Her Majesty The Queen Mother, Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck, the promoter conceptualized and published a very Historical Book titled 11-11-11, a tribute book dedicated to The Fourth Druk Gyalpo on His Majesty’s Historic and unique Birthday, 11-11-11, an event that comes only once in a 100 years. The promoter’s team took exactly 45 days from the concept to launch creating publishing history in Bhutan. The promoter has also created “Bhutan International Film festival” (BIFF) starting with the “Mobile Phone Cinema” a film festival for short films shot on a mobile phone camera. The main idea to organize the festival is to open up the world of filmmaking to masses of amateurs. The Mobile Phone Cinema was launched on 2nd May 2015 at Sherubtse College and the event was graced by His Excellency Lyonpo Norbu Wangchuk, the then Minister for the Ministry of Economic Affairs. From 2015-2016 the promoter founded and initiated a mega event project; “People’s Initiative in Celebrating the Sixtieth Anniversary” (PICSA) under the Royal Patronage of Her Majesty Gyalyum Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck. One of the eleven mega events initiated included winning the first “Guinness World Records” for Bhutan in tree plantation on 2nd June 2015. 100 men planted 49,672 trees in one hour setting a new world record. The promoter is in the process of creating another world record for Bhutan in producing the Largest Book in the World titled “The Great Fourth” which is due to launch on 11th November 2018 coinciding with the birth Anniversary of the Fourth King of Bhutan. Establishment of Bhutan’s first film school “Film & Television Institute of Bhutan” (FTIB) will be the promoter’s latest venture aimed at not only training youth in the field of film & television but also to help create employment opportunities which is one of the top priorities of the government. The promoter is one of the founding members of Film Association of Bhutan and has served as its Vice President. In September 2017, the promoter was elected as the President of the Film Association of Bhutan (FAB) for a term of four years. The promoter is also the board director of National Film Commission of Bhutan.