Société française d’ethnomusicologie

You are warmly invited to take part in a 3 day International Festival of Film, to be held in Kathmandu, Nepal during November 2011, and to submit a film for inclusion in the programme.

The festival, subtitled "Music for life, Music for survival", encompassing any aspect of traditional music culture from any country, especially instrumental folk music, song and dance, will be hosted by Music Museum of Nepal in association with Tribhuvan University, Oscar International College (College of Film Studies) and the Handicraft Federation of Nepal. Etc. and will be managed by CIPA (Creative Intra - National Production Arts).

Participants are requested to submit a short (3-15 mins) or longer (up to 1 hour) film. The final list of films to be screened will be decided by an International Selection Committee.

The languages of the Film Festival will be English and Nepali. All films in languages other than English should have English subtitles where appropriate.

National and foreign participants are also requested to bring demonstrations of their traditional instrument making craftsmanship to display in the Handicraft Exhibition.

For advanced booking, please contact Music Museum of Nepal nfmim@ntc.net.np. Preliminary applications for registration and inclusion in this First International Folk Music Film Festival in Nepal will be accepted now and have already been received from ethnomusicologists and film makers working in Iran, India, Nepal and UK.

Brief Background to Music Museum of Nepal

Goverment Registered Charity No. 237/054/55

Tripureshwor Mahadev Temple, Tripureshwor, Kathmandu, Nepal

Telephone: 00977 14242741

Email: nfmim@ntc.net.np

Website www.musicmuseumnepal.org

Ram Prasad Kadel started, in 1995, to collect and conserve traditional folk musical instruments knowing that the number of Nepalese folk musicians and precious musical instruments was declining rapidly. Subsequently, in 1997, he founded Music Museum of Nepal with the mission of collecting, conserving and promoting folk musical instruments, folk music and traditional dance of Nepal, to record folk melodies and their playing techniques, to preserve the skills of instrument making craft workers and to facilitate the teaching of related skills to youngsters.

Nepal is rich in both natural beauty and in culture; it possesses a wide and diverse folk musical heritage represented by its numerous and versatile traditional musical instruments. This small country has more than a hundred ethnic groups each with their own musical culture and traditions to mark every occasion and rite of passage from birth to death and beyond. Some of Nepal’s, culturally most important, ethnic groups and castes are professional musicians who have preserved rare melodies, lyrics and instrument making techniques, by passing on their skills from one generation to the next, through the ages, despite their lowly position in society. Sadly, their way of life is now in an extremely precarious condition but Music Museum of Nepal also aims to raise the status of Nepal’s musician communities.

Music tradition has evolved along with human civilization and from earliest times has been a medium for expressing both joy and suffering. In fact, music has been inseparable from human life, beyond memory, since we started making music by clapping, whistling and humming to accompany our dancing. In Nepal, as elsewhere, traditional music has also long played the vital therapeutic role of ameliorating suffering and grief and soothing ills; it can transcend a troubled mind to a realm of sublime peace but many of our country’s numerous folk music traditions are on the verge of extinction, often supplanted by imported popular western music and instruments. We are indebted to our ancestors for developing our musical heritage and feel we should take the responsibility to preserve and perpetuate our inheritance for the benefit of future generations.

In our present consumerist world, materialism tends to overshadow spiritualism and aesthetics and encourages the rapid extinction of folk lore, music and tradition. Hence, this First International Folk Music Film Festival has been planned to revitalize interest in and raise awareness of Nepal’s rich music tradition and of Global folk music traditions generally. It aims to uplift the life of traditional professional musicians and to put pressure on local governments to include traditional music in the school curriculum.

The First International Folk Music Film Festival in Nepal

with the theme

“Music for Life, Music for survival”

will be held in Kathmandu from 25th November to 27^th November 2011.

Provisional Programme:

25^th Nov. 10 am. Opening Ceremony of First International Folk Music Film Festival in Nepal.

25th – 27^th Nov. Film shows: daily morning (10am – 12.30pm) and afternoon (2 – 5pm) screenings of selected Folk Music Films followed by Question & Answer sessions and an opportunity for the press; Journalists and other media personnel, to meet filmmakers and ethnomusicologists.

26^th Nov. Open Day and Press Meet in Music Museum of Nepal 1.00 – 4.00pm. After the morning film session participants will move to Music Museum of Nepal, Tripureshwor, where Lunch will be available from 1.00 pm and the museum will be open to all until 4.00pm.

25th - 27^th Nov.10am – 5pm Handicraft Exhibition continuing daily.

25th – 26^th Nov.6pm-8pm. Live concert of performances by traditional musicians.

27^th Nov. 6pm- 8pm Awards and Closing Ceremony followed by final concert of live music.

CIPA (Creative Intra - National Production Arts) www.cipanepal.org is a new and dynamic organization begun in 2010 by enthusiastic young college students. CIPA’s aim is to promote Nepal’s indigenous original talent, which until now has largely been unappreciated and has often depreciated due to the lack of an encouraging and stimulating environment or a suitable platform for exhibition of their potential. It was extremely tough for them, but already in their first year and due to their unshakable determination CIPA’s hard working team has achieved laudable success with their presentation of the Buds Film Fiesta in September 2010 and they have many more exciting events in the pipe line including a fashion show for young designers.

Further information for contributors.

Application Forms:

On receipt of Preliminary applications the organizers will make Online Application Forms and a finalized Programme, together with the full Festival Rules and Regulations available to potential contributors. These can also be sent by email on request.

Entry Fee:

All films must be accompanied by an application form signed by the filmmaker/ producer and a £35 GBP (or equivalent in USD or Euros) non-refundable fee. Details of how payments can be made will be sent out with application forms.

Final entries:

Films must be received by the 31stJuly 2011. The film(s) may have originally been made in celluloid or digital format (HD and SD) and may be from any time period.

Format:

5 DVD copies (Region 0/ALL) of each film will be required for the selection committee plus 1 copy in mini DV tape (PAL format only) for screening.

Selection:

Selection for screening will be made by an International Jury comprising of filmmakers, musicians and academics. All films will also have to be approved by the Nepal Board of Film Censors.

Selection date:

Contributors will be informed, by an International Committee by the 31st August 2011, whether their film has been selected for screening at the festival.

Returns Policy:

International film entries from those who do not attend the festival should include a return postal address if filmmakers wish their original copies to be sent back to them. Domestic films must be collected by the filmmakers from our main office in Tripureshwor.

Handling:

All films will be viewed upon arrival and filmmakers will be notified of any damage. Music Museum of Nepal will exercise the utmost care in handling the film copies but will not be held responsible for any damages or loss incurred during transit. It is the responsibility of the contributor to make sure s/he retains the original film and does not send the only copy. Please inform the organizers by Email nfmim@ntc.net.np when film has been dispatched.

Note: Nepal does not have a secure or reliable postal service. Contributors must allow at least 2 weeks for postal delivery and should be aware that the only certain form of delivery from abroad is by International Courier. Full details will be provided with application forms.

A Registration fee:

£100 GBP (or equivalent in USD or Euros) will be charged to contributors from first world countries whose films are selected for screening and who wish to attend the festival; this will cover entrance to the Festival plus Nepali food during the day. Details of how payments can be made will be sent out with application forms. Unfortunately the organizers are unable to meet travel costs to and from Kathmandu but may be able to help with accommodation (Bed and Breakfast) for foreign contributors. A list of Hotels in different price bands can be provided for foreign visitors.

Promotional use:

Music Museum of Nepal reserves the right to use and reproduce still and moving images and audio from all submitted works for promotional purposes related to the festival.

Copyright:

It is the responsibility of the contributor to obtain permission for the film to be screened at the Folk Music Film Festival in Nepal in 2011 if s/he does not own the copyright. The organizing committee of Folk Music Film Festival in Nepal will also require permission to distribute DVD copies of submitted films among members of the selection committee.

Press Kit:

The films may be accompanied by a press kit, which could include any of the following:

1. Production Still Photographs

2. Film Release/ Production Date(s).

3. Newspaper and other print media articles, reviews and write-ups.

4. Filmography of the director/ Discography of the subject.

Awards:

Awards will be presented for the best film entries and we hope to have a special category for entries from beginners, students and young film makers.

Cinema tickets: members of the audience will be charged an entrance fee for each screening session.

City Tours: Guided tours of Kathmandu city can be arranged before or after the festival if participants are interested.