Navigating Our Missing Love – Feminism and Queer Feminism

At the Queer Film Festival Kathmandu - QFFK 2024 campaigned by Documentary Open School - Docskool, a keynote discussion titled "Navigating Our Missing Love: Feminism and Queer Feminism" was successfully organized jointly by Loom Nepal, the Federation of Sexual and Gender Minorities (FSGMN), WOFOWON, SWASA Nepal, and Inclusive Steps Nepal, as part of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign 2024.

The program saw the participation of over 100 women with different gender identities including young women, members of sexual and gender minority groups, women with disabilities, female sex workers, and female laborers from the construction sector.

In the current context of Nepal's women's movement, which has progressed through various perspectives, the fear of weakening arises if we fail to advance women's issues in an integrated manner collectively. To strengthen feminist movements to maintain momentum, it is essential to unite intersectional feminist movements. Such collective efforts can spotlight women and queer’s lived experiences and challenges in public discourse, paving the way for solutions. This dialogue was organized to foster collective strength to address fragmented issues and fortify Nepal's feminist movement. The discussion emphasized the need for uniting all women's rights movements and campaigns as a non-negotiable step toward strengthening the broader feminist movement.

During the event:

• Sarita Dahal, Executive Director of Loom Nepal, presented the history as well as gaps or challenges and also the ways forward for the intersectional feminist movement in Nepal.
  
  
• Suhana Thapa Magar, from the Federation of Sexual and Gender Minorities, spoke on the inception, current status, and integration of the queer feminist movement into the broader feminist discourse in Nepal.
  
  
• Prof. Dr. Bindu Pokharel, a gender studies scholar, offered insights on why it is vital to integrate issues from Nepal's feminist, queer feminist, and other intersectional feminist movements into mainstream discourse. She also outlined the way forward for bringing women's collective issues into the mainstream.

At the end of the program, feedback from participants was synthesized into the following key points regarding the future of Nepal's feminist and intersectional feminist movements:

• Inclusion in the Mainstream: The women's movement must address the concerns of marginalized communities, including those defined by caste, religion, class, gender, and sexual identity.
  
  
• Unity Across Feminist Movements: It is essential to create an environment where all feminist movements can come together to realize the collective goal of women's rights and gender equality.
  
  
• A Common Platform: Nepal’s feminist movement must unite diverse feminist movements to progress collectively as a shared movement.
  
  
• Incorporating Intersectional Issues: The core concerns of feminist, queer feminist, and intersectional feminist movements should be addressed with positivity and unity.
  
  
• Diversity and Collaboration: Effective coordination and collaboration are necessary to embrace diversity and differences in the movement.
  
  
• Human Rights Perspective: Equality and respect are universal issues that should not be limited to the rights of men and women alone. It is crucial to recognize intersectional issues as human rights and work collectively to ensure rights for all.

Nepal's 1st Queer Film Festival Kathmandu - QFFK 2024 commenced

Documentary Open School - Docskool launched the Nepal's first Queer film festival Kathmandu- QFFK 2024 to be held 6 - 9 December at Yalamaya Kendra, Patan Dhoka and Docskool, Thapathali alongside several satellite venues. 

Starting today the festival will present a collection of 51 feature films, documentary features and short projects including animations. They include projects made the world over, as artists explore diverse aspects of sexuality, sexual identity – choices, bodily autonomy among other issues. Queer cinema is a genre which emphasis non heterosexual narratives in film unlimited to portrayal of LGBTQIA+ identity alone – however most films focus on personal and collective identity and experience of LGBTQIA+ people.

 

Queer Film Festival Kathmandu - QFFK has partnered with several distribution firms to present films made after 2023. These include films such as S/he is still Her/E: The official Genesis P-Orridge Documentary on the life of highly influential and controversial transgressive queer artist, performer Genesis P-Orridge. The film was shown at Sheffield, and Tribeca Film festival earlier this year. Other feature documentaries include ‘If I die, it will be of Joy’ which deals with older women exploring sexuality and Warsha, a short film from Lebanon which won the best shorts award at Sundance in 2022. Majority feature films being shown will have their South Asia premiere at the festival. Films are being shown under 17 packages of short and feature projects. Entry to all screenings are free but required prior registration.

To register visit the festival website:
www.docskool.wordpress.com or whatsapp on +9779818966569 

Queer film festival Kathmandu is organised by Docskool, a collective of filmmakers working on cinema education and culture promotion since 2008. The festival is part of Docskool’s ‘Women in Cinema’ initiative which provides small grants and year long production accompaniment to women and queer filmmakers at pivotal stages of their career.  

Queer film festival will open today with Fawzia Mirza’s ‘Queen of my Dreams’ from Canada about a Pakistani immigrant family and a young girls exploration of her sexuality while coming to terms with her family history and her muslim, Pakistani – immigrant identity. The film will have a repeat screening on 9th December at Docskool premises. 

19yr old Teen Activist from Rukum Ghanashyam Bishwakarma bags Glocal Teen Hero 2024

Mr. Ghanashyam Bishwakarma, 19-year-old Activist from Rukum has been awarded the title of “Golchha Group presents Glocal Teen Hero Nepal 2024” amidst an award ceremony at The Soaltee Kathmandu organized by Glocal Pvt. Ltd today. Over the past decade, the Glocal Teen Hero initiative has built a legacy of recognizing teenagers who excel beyond academics, providing a platform to showcase their extraordinary talents. Glocal Teen Hero Nepal profoundly acknowledges teenagers’ initiation, creativity, and enthusiasm, empowering them to catalyze positive change at the intersection of global and local domains. 

Mr. Ghanashyam was selected among the Top Six Finalists of the competition viz Mr. Aashish Panthi (19 years, Tech Educator, Kapilvastu); Mr. Nischal Bhattarai (16 years, Educator, Syangja); Ms. Purnima Timsina (17 years, Child Right Activist, Jhapa); Ms. Sajani Sharma (19 years, Social Activist, Kaski) and Mr. Shreejay Subedi (18 years, Tech Enthusiast, Parsa). 

Mr. Ghanashyam Bishwakarma is a 19-year-old activist from Rukum with over eight years of experience advocating for the rights and well-being of children and adolescents. His dedication to child rights, mental health, climate justice, and combating child marriage has made a significant impact on society. As the President of the National Adolescents Boys Network Nepal, he is deeply committed to advancing comprehensive child rights advocacy. He collaborates with various organizations to address critical issues such as sexual and reproductive rights, mental health, climate justice, and online safety. He leads educational workshops designed to combat child sexual exploitation and enhance reporting mechanisms, empowering young people to protect themselves and their peers. His role as a climate justice advocate includes organizing workshops focused on children’s rights to a healthy environment, emphasizing the importance of environmental sustainability in safeguarding future generations. 

Ghanashyam’s commitment extends to coordinating emergency response efforts, where he plays a crucial role in data collection and relief distribution, particularly during natural disasters. His leadership in these initiatives reflects his dedication to supporting vulnerable communities in times of crisis. On the international stage, he represents Nepal at forums such as the World Social Forum, where he advocates for child rights and shares the challenges faced by young people in Nepal. Beyond his advocacy work, he engages in creative projects, including writing songs that resonate with his activism. 

Ghanashyam’s work as a child rights activist has significantly impacted society by empowering children, raising awareness, and influencing policy changes. Through his educational workshops on child sexual exploitation and climate justice, he has equipped young people with the knowledge and tools they need to advocate for their rights and well-being. His talent showcases provide children with platforms to express their creativity, build confidence, and develop their voices. He leverages media engagement, such as hosting the Bal Chautari Program on Radio Sanobheri F.M., to raise awareness on child rights, child marriage, mental health, and online safety. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he played a crucial role in disseminating vital information to protect children and families, ensuring that they had access to the resources and support they needed. His collaborations with governmental and non-governmental organizations have influenced child protection policies, including efforts to eliminate online child sexual exploitation. 

As a climate justice activist, Mr. Ghanashyam educates youth on environmental sustainability, helping to foster a generation that is conscious of their impact on the planet. His coordination of disaster relief efforts during earthquakes and other crises further demonstrates his unwavering commitment to community support. Overall, his work fosters a society where children are empowered, protected, and given the opportunities they need to thrive. 

Top Six Finalists were shortlisted for the final round of Golchha Group presents Glocal Teen Hero Nepal based on their achievements, initiations, contributions, and impact of work. The Finalists also attended a series of Self-Competency Workshops on various topics and had the opportunity to interact with industry leaders and corporate personalities to broaden their knowledge. 

The finalists were individually interviewed by the panel of judges comprising of Mr. Ashish Tiwari, Director at Ace Institute of Management; Ms. Chandrika Kalia, Country Director at Coca-Cola Nepal; Dr. Ghana S Gurung, Country Representative at WWF Nepal; Ms. Patricia Fernandez Pacheco, Country Representative to Nepal, UN Women; Ms. Seema Golchha, Director at Golchha Group Pvt. Ltd. And H.E. Veronique Lorenzo, Ambassador, European Union Delegation to Nepal and today, Mr. Ghanashyam was officially declared and awarded as Golchha Group presents Glocal Teen Hero Nepal 2024 amidst the awarding ceremony at The Soaltee Kathmandu. 

This year Glocal has partnered with Golchha Group as a Title Partner; Embassy of India, European Union, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany Kathmandu, UN Women as a Strategic Partner; Honda, Coca-Cola, WWF, Toyota, KFC, Panchakanya, Nabil Bank, DishHome Go, Ace Institute of Management, Real Juice as Partners; The Soaltee Kathmandu as Initiative Partner; Worldlink as Internet Partner; Cozy Home as Hospitality Partner; Yeti Airlines as Airline Partner; Prisma Advertising as PR Partner; No Next Question (NNQ) as Outreach Partner; eSewa, Nepal Telecom, Pizza Hut, IMS Group as Supporters. 

The journey of the Glocal Teen Hero over the last decade has been nothing short of transformative. It has fostered a generation of young leaders who have redefined the possibilities of youth engagement and social impact. From its humble beginnings to becoming a nationwide platform of inspiration, the platform has illuminated the stories of countless teens, empowering them to create positive change in their communities. As we celebrate this milestone, we remain committed to continuing this legacy, nurturing future heroes who will shape a better tomorrow.