Four films, Tshorwa, Pot of Gold, Serga Mathang, and Bum Badha Chen-mi Rinzi dominated the 16th annual film awards held recently taking 21 awards out of 31.

Tshorwa, a romantic horror movie by Karma Lhatrul Dorji Rinpoche booked the most number of awards at the 16th Annual Film Festival held recently.

The film revolving around the existence or the non-existence of black magic practitioners in the country grabbed six awards in the best cinematography, lighting, editor, background score, sound design, and female singer categories.

Pot of Gold starring former Member of Parliament from Nyisho-Sephu constituency, Wangdue Gyem Dorji and his son Tashi Penjor Dorji claimed five awards. Director Kelzang P Jigme’s Serga Mathang and director and producer Tshering Dorji’s Bum Badha Chen-mi Rinzi also won five awards each.

Gyem Dorji won the best actor award while his son Tashi Penjor Dorji bagged the best male debutant actor both for the comedy film Pot of Gold. Deki Lhamo, who played the opposite role with Tashi Penjor Dorji booked the best new actor female award.

An emotional Tandin Bidha broke down on stage while receiving the best actress award for her role in Bum Badha Chen-mi Rinzi. She scored two nominations in this category alongside veteran actresses Dorji Wangmo for Pot of Gold, Tshokey Tshomo Karchung for Thrung Thrung Karmo, and Lhaki Dolma for Hum Chewai Zamling.

The first National Film Awards was instituted in May 2001 with partial funding support from the Dzongkha Development Commission (DDC) until 2003. Zimdra Industries provided full financial support to organise the next three annual awards. From 2008, the government provided Nu 1 million to organise the annual event.

The funding support grew this year with the introduction of the Prime Minister’s awards of Nu 3 million, and Nu 2 million from the Department of Culture.

DDC sponsored the award of Nu 50,000 for the Dzongkha language category and the Royal Office for Media provided Nu 50,000 for the youth and education category.

Staff Reporter

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