I Am Belmaya

Dominated by her husband, family and society, Belmaya is desperate for independence. Born in a poor hill village in Nepal, a Dalit (the lowest, ‘untouchable’ caste), orphaned aged nine, and trapped in an abusive marriage with a baby daughter, Belmaya at 21 has given up hope of finding happiness. Rewind to 2006, when Belmaya, then a feisty teenager living in a girls’ home in Pokhara, participated in a photo project. Impassioned and inspired, she was eager 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. She embarks on her graduation film about the importance of education for girls. But are her resentful husband and conservative community ready for this? (Dartmouth Films)