SCREENING SELECTIONS 2021
Ashmina
Nominated for Best Drama Short
Information
Year: 2018
Country: UK
Duration: 15'
Language: Nepali
Director: Dekel Berenson
Writer: Dekel Berenson
Producer: Merlin Merton, Dominic Davey, Dekel Berenson
Cast: Dikshya Karki
Nestled between a beautiful lake and the Himalayas, Ashmina, 13, lives with her family at the outskirts of Pokhara Nepal, paragliding capital of the world. The remote and traditional town is also a busy tourist destination where the locals are profoundly affected by the swarms of tourists who visit it daily. Forced to skip school, Ashmina helps her family make ends meet by working at the landing field, packing the parachutes of foreign pilots in return of small change.
Dekel Berenson is a writer, director, activist and graphic designer. Drawing inspiration from traveling to more than sixty countries, Dekel explores real-world social and humanitarian issues. His second short film, "Ashmina" won several prizes, including Best Short Film award at the 59th Krakow Film Festival and Best Live Action Short at the 36th
Jerusalem Film Festival, qualifying the film for Academy Awards consideration. His third film, "Anna", premiered as Official Selection in Competition at the 72nd Cannes Film Festival and won the Best British Short Film award at the 22nd BIFA awards.