KATHMANDU, MAY 21: Govinda Siwakoti defines his life through his passion for storytelling. The 25-year-old student of Masters in Media Technology at Shepherd College is an aspiring filmmaker.
The co-founder of Onion Films, which is a network of young filmmakers and promotes alternative films in Nepal, Siwakoti has made documentaries and short films like Khoja/Search, Think Ecologically, In 3 Years, and others.
At present, Siwakoti works as a freelancer for Samriddhi Foundation doing photography and is involved in producing audio and video works. With Onion Films, he is currently working on different film-related workshops and mini-film projects.
He enjoys movies, trekking, photography, and theater, and says, “I see myself as a creative visual communicator in my future.”
What drew you to filmmaking?
Since my childhood I was very fascinated with hearing and telling stories. After I finished my SLC I looked at my brother’s work in filmmaking and I came to realize that cinema was an extraordinary medium to explore a world of imagination and to tell my stories in artistic and creative ways. Since then I’m making short films and documentaries.
What subjects are you interested in for your films?
The subjects can be anything but what I’m interested in are stories that are anything but usual. We can see thousands of stories from the time we wake up in the morning till the time we go to bed at night. So I’m looking for stories which are untold, which are never noticed and which help in making the audience aware.
Which documentary of your own is closest to your heart?
Search/Khoja is close to my heart as this was my first documentary. I spent more than three years researching the subject, finding the main character, collecting the facts. Moreover, this documentary gave me international recognition as it was officially selected at Workhouse Film Festival, UK, and was purchased by Ethical TV, a media platform for films and news.
Are you inspired by any particular filmmaker?
I’m very inspired by filmmakers like Martin Scorsese, Akira Kurosawa, and Quentin Tarantino. I admire their storytelling techniques.
Which are your favorite documentaries by any other filmmaker?
Some of my favorites are Animals are Beautiful People by Jamie Uys, The Sari Soldiers by Julie Bridgham, and We Corner People by Kesang Tseten.
What aspects of filmmaking do you enjoy the most – scriptwriting, direction, being behind the camera?
While every aspect of filmmaking is equally important, I love directing. The director leads the whole team; the film is ultimately the vision of its director. So, it’s the director who gives life to the story in a visual form with the understanding of the crew.
Future plans?
Three years down the line I hope to contribute to the Nepali film industry with new and experimental films.
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