I Am Belmaya

I Am Belmaya (2020)

Directed by Sue Carpenter and Belmaya Nepali, 81 mins

Dominated by her husband, her family and society, Belmaya is desperate for independence. But in much of Nepal, men rule and women obey. Here, in one of the poorest nations on earth, women are daughters, wives, mothers, dependents and, all too often, victims and slaves - but rarely individuals in their own right.

Born a Dalit (the lowest, ‘untouchable’ caste), orphaned at the age of nine, poorly educated, and trapped in an abusive marriage with a baby daughter, Belmaya, 21, has given up hope of finding happiness.

Rewind to 2006, when Belmaya, at 14, participated in a photo project at a girls’ home in Pokhara. Impassioned and inspired, she was keen to change her discriminatory world through photography. But that window closed when the home locked away her camera.

Now she gets a second chance, this time to train in documentary filmmaking. Picking up the camera once more, her old spark returns. Determined to create a better life for her young daughter, Belmaya gains the skills and confidence to forge a new path. But are her resentful husband and conservative community ready for this?

An inspirational tale of rebellion, love and hope, shot over five years, as Belmaya battles to takes charge of her story.

I Am Belmaya: on demand

Nearly three years after our first screening of this wonderful film, we are thrilled to showcase it once again!

Tickets

I Am Belmaya will be available for you to watch from Friday 22 to Monday 25 September 2023. VOD tickets are on sale now at £4.99

Get your I Am Belmaya ticket here!

All VOD tickets are free for Global Health Film members

Find out more about Global Health Film membership here!

Livestreamed Q&A with I Am Belmaya director

Tuesday 26 September 19:30 BST: join us online to put your questions and thoughts to co-director Sue Carpenter and to to find out what happened next and how Belmaya is doing today.

Your Q&A registration link is in your VOD ticket confirmation email!