Ani Bond: Choying Drolma

This musical documentary has been hailed as the Nepal’s version of “The Sound of Music”. With ethereal melodies from the Himalayas, the film tells a story of love, courage, and forgiveness, chronicling the legendary life of the "Rock-star Nun." Over the course of seven years, the team traveled through ten cities to capture the essence of the story. In 2023, the film won the NETPAC Award for Best Asia-Pacific Film and the Audience Award at the Warsaw International Film Festival, as well as the Best Feature Documentary and Best Music & Sound Awards at the China Academy Awards of Documentary Films, along with a nomination for the Jury Prize. It was also set to open the Nepal International Film Festival in 2024.

Nepali girl Choying Drolma, seeking to escape a fate similar to her mother’s, shaved her head at a young age to become a nun. In the nunnery, she learned to sing under the guidance of her master, her heavenly voice unwittingly setting the course of her destiny and launching her on an unrelenting new journey. She founded a school for girls, providing hope and aspirations for Nepali girls who, like her, have faced misfortune. As she tirelessly advocates for women's rights on the world stage, she accomplishes one seemingly impossible task after another, earning numerous accolades. Yet, a shadow lingers in her heart, as she struggles to find peace with the memory of her late father. Thus, she embarks on a poignant journey of self-discovery and healing to her ancestral homeland in Yushu, Qinghai, China. Will she succeed in reconciling with her late father and fulfilling his last wish?