The cinema of Bhutan is a small[1] but emerging industry,[2] having started in the mid-1990s.[1] It has since been supported by government officials and different businesses.[3]
Bhutan's film industry is highly influenced by neighboring Indian film industry, with most Bhutanese films being adaptations of Indian ones or based on the Indian film format.[1] In the 21st century[4] there have been calls by local filmmakers for a tilt towards originality in Bhutanese cinema. Many films have started to blend Indian cinema with local Buddhist teachings and traditions, and Bollywood films are now rarely seen in Bhutanese cinema halls after more than a decade of domination.[1][2] Storytelling based on Buddhist oral history and supernatural beliefs are increasingly influencing Bhutanese cinematic structure.[5]
As of 2011[update], Bhutan's film industry produced an average of thirty films a year.[3] By 2012, Thimphu had six cinema halls.[6]
Some voices are confident that Bhutan's film industry is expected to grow and innovate in the future.[7]
- ^ a b c d Stancati, Margherita (23 May 2011). "Does Bhutan Love Bollywood Too Much?". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
- ^ a b "Mountains, makeshift cinemas: Bhutan's battle to make movies". Egypt Independent. 31 December 2014. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
- ^ a b "Bhutan film industry – report December 2011" (PDF). Bhutan Film Industry. 29 December 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 27 January 2015.
- ^ Nair, Prathap (21 April 2019). "Bhutan's New Wave". LiveMint. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
- ^ Chaudhuri, Shohini; Clayton, Sue (2012). "Storytelling in Bhutanese cinema: Research context and case study of a film in development". Journal of Screenwriting. 3 (2): 197–204. doi:10.1386/josc.3.2.197_1.
- ^ Two new cinema halls in Thimphu – BBS
- ^ "Bhutan Film Industry" (PDF).