Kathmandu, March 19
The documentary film Snow Leopard Sisters has had its Nepal premiere. The premiere show, held at Labim Mall, saw a notable number of both Nepali and international audiences.
The documentary presents the inspiring story of an unlikely yet powerful friendship between two Indigenous women from Dolpa, one of the most remote regions of the Himalayas.
The film is directed by Sonam Choki Lama, Ben Ayers, and Andrew Lynch. It follows the journey of local snow leopard conservationist Chhiring Lhamu Lama as she mentors 17-year-old Tenzin Bhuti Gurung. Together, they traverse the dangerous yet beautiful Himalayan landscape in search of the rare and endangered snow leopard.
The film highlights the power of women’s voices in conservation and explores how they can help build a better future for the elusive snow leopard. It has also inspired direct initiatives in the Dolpa district to increase the population of the endangered species and to completely end retaliatory killings of snow leopards by local herders.
Nepali photographer Sonam Choki Lama began documenting the search and conservation of snow leopards in her remote homeland alongside her sister, Chhiring Lhamu Lama, an effort that later evolved into her debut documentary. International award-winning filmmakers Ben Ayers and Andrew Lynch later joined the project, forming a strong team spanning three continents.
The story of the documentary is written by Ben Ayers and Andrew Lynch. It is produced by Ian Davies, Torkil Jones, Joanna Natasegara, and Chhiring Lhamu Lama. The cinematography is by Sonam Choki Lama, Andrew Lynch, and Rush Sturges, while editing is done by Katie Bryer.
Executive producers include Academy Award-winning director Joanna Natasegara and renowned Hollywood actor Leonardo DiCaprio. The documentary has already won awards at more than a dozen international film festivals.
