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EntertainmentPosted at: May 6 2025 9:55PM


Two Bhutanese films break into global markets on Amazon Prime Video

Thimphu, May 6 (UNI) Two Bhutanese feature films "Buelwa -An Offering", produced by Bezya Pictures and Samuh, and "Gangnam Girls", produced by Samuh, are now available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video in 72 countries.
According to a report by Kuensel, the titles have already launched in the United Kingdom, Australia, Kenya, and several European countries, with a broader international rollout expected over the coming weeks.
Bhutan's Department of Media, Creative Industry, and Intellectual Property (DoMCIIP) under the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and Employment played a key role in supporting the films' international marketing efforts.
It supported a comprehensive proposal from the producers, which included a pay-per-view revenue model aimed at increasing global visibility for Bhutanese cinema.
While Bhutan's nascent film industry has been steadily gaining traction at international film festivals, filmmakers continue to face challenges in securing both theatrical and streaming distribution abroad.
Charmi Chheda, the writer, director and one of the producers of both the films said the entire journey was arduous, from securing funds and finding the right distributor to promoting the films internationally.
"It is important to find the right market, but with our kind of films, we often have to create our own space. In the future, I hope this process becomes easier. Most international films secure distribution before production, but we usually make the film first and then search for distributors and a market."
Bringing the films to global streaming platforms took nearly a year of negotiations with distribution houses, including overcoming multiple setbacks.
She shared that the process took almost a year which required persistent negotiations with distribution houses and numerous setbacks that resulted in getting the films onto an OTT platform.
"We often get our hopes up when people express interest, but more often than not, it ends in disappointment. Everyone loves a good film, but distributors still have to prioritise what will sell," she said.
As these films reach global audiences, the creators hope they will foster a deeper appreciation of Bhutanese culture, values, and scenic beauty.
Other Bhutanese films streaming on international OTT platforms include Pawo Choying Dorji's film "Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom", streaming on both Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, and Arun Bhattarai's documentary "The Next Guardian", streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
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