SCREENINGS
Tashi’s Turbine premieres on World Channel’s Doc World program on Sunday, November 13 (check local listings). Filmmaker Amitabh Joshi and special guest Tashi Basti will be joining us in a Facebook Live stream of the premiere on Sunday 11/13 at 10/9c – they’ll be answering questions during the live event.
ABOUT
Tashi Bista dreams to install a makeshift wind turbine in Namdok, a remote village nestled high amongst the Himalayas of Nepal. Battered by wind and cold, Namdok, has been in darkness for centuries. Wearing Ray Bans to shield his eyes from the dust and just a leather jacket to insulate him from the bitter cold he surveys the village. Tashi Bista, the sturdiest activist in town provides a fresh perspective to alternative energy. He grew up in this region without electrical power. He is determined to bring lights to Namdok in an effort to prove himself to the skeptical village community. Tashi’s Turbine is a character driven film that shows the impact of one man’s dream for light, in a village waiting for development.
Namdok is located in the northern region of Upper Mustang, Nepal. This land was restricted to foreigners until the early 1990s. The remoteness of the region and the sustained neglect by the government has deprived the village communities with infrastructure necessities such as electrical power.
Tashi’s Turbine brings a beacon of hope to the village of Namdok. Tashi arrives during a pivotal moment in the lives of Pema Gurung, Chimi Lhamo, and Pemba Tashi. Pema is a young girl struggling to learn with limited schooling. Chimi is a widow with one son trying to maintain a house without the help of her husband. Pemba is a middle aged man building a stone wall around his shrinking family. Each family is in need of light, even if it starts with just one bulb.
TRAILER
FILMMAKERS
AMITABH JOSHI – DIRECTOR/CINEMATOGRAPHER
Amitabh Joshi, originally from Kathmandu, Nepal, is currently based in New York City. He is interested in exploring environmental sustainability, cultural identities and youth related issues. He is a director and cinematographer at Vacant Light, a production company in New York City. Tashi’s Turbine is his first feature length documentary. Amitabh was awarded the Princess Grace JustFilms Grant in 2012, The Shelley and Donald Rubin Foundation grant in 2013, and Center for Asian American Media Documentary Fund in 2014. Amitabh has worked as a cinematographer for Art21, Positive Exposure, Northside Media and many others.
ERIK SPINK – CO-PRODUCER
Erik Spink is a producer at Vacant Light, a film and media production company based in New York City. Erik has worked in the industry over the last decade in film, television, and digital media productions. His work has screened at film festivals internationally.
NABIN UPRETY – CO-PRODUCER
Nabin Uprety has completed his masters in Physics and is pursuing work as a researcher. Nabin jumped at the opportunity to work on a documentary film that related to his field. He worked as a co-producer and sound engineer throughout the production of the film. He had the theoretical knowledge about the working mechanisms of the windmill. Nabin was delighted to see the benefits of such a program in a rural community of Nepal.
JOHN KRUTH – COMPOSER
John Kruth is a singer/songwriter/ troubadour/bandleader/poet/multi-instrumentalist (including mandolin, guitar, banjo, flute, harmonica and sitar) music professor (College of Mount St. Vincent, Riverdale, N.Y.) journalist and author of three musical biographies to date. To Live’s To Fly, his 2007 biography of Townes Van Zant was the recipient of the prestigious Deems Taylor Award. John has recorded ten solo projects as well as five albums with his world music group TriBeCaStan and most recently formed the gothic folk ensemble Villa Delirium. As a sideman Kruth has performed and collaborated with John Prine, Laurie Anderson, Violent Femmes, King Missile, Hal Willner, Patti Smith, Allen Ginsberg, Sam Shepard and Ornette Coleman.
PHOTOS
Additional photos available upon request.
CONTACT
Please contact momo[at]caamedia.org with any questions.
This program is funded by the Center for Asian American Media, through support from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.