Special Documentary Screening

LOGLINE

Driven by the memories of the last living elders, this documentary captures the historic legacy of Nepali Newar traders who crossed the highest peaks to build thriving businesses and families in Tibet. The film examines the beautiful cultural and personal ties born of this unique Himalayan migration, alongside the painful consequences faced by their descendants.

SHORT SYNOPSIS

Himalayan Dreams – Tales of Lhasa Newar Traders recounts the century old trade relationship and the deep connections between Nepal and Tibet from the voices of the traders and their surviving family members. The film is a unique historical story of the lives of of Newar traders, the cultural and religious connections, the loves lost and their continuing relevance in the 21st century.

FULL SYNOPSIS

Himalayan Dreams: Tales of Lhasa Newar Traders chronicles the extraordinary history of the Newar merchants of Nepal who established a centuries-old community in Lhasa, Tibet. Navigating treacherous weather, isolated trails, and intense altitude, these traders embarked on a grueling 20-day journey on foot and horseback to share not just goods, but their lives.Told through a rich tapestry of rare archival photographs, cherished family heirlooms, and emotional interviews with the last surviving elders, this documentary offers a soulful look into a lifestyle on the brink of being forgotten. The narrative transcends economics, anchoring itself deeply in the personal and cultural relations that blossomed in the heart of Lhasa. The Newar traders did not merely visit Tibet; they built homes, married Tibetan women, and raised children within an unprecedented, shared culture. In their households, Newari and Tibetan languages blended seamlessly, and unique hybrid traditions flourished, creating a harmonious cross-border identity.But as the decades marched on and the world modernized, the ancient walking routes grew quiet, and the vibrant era of the trans-Himalayan merchant naturally came to an end. The film explores the profound emotional ripples of this transition. As physical journeys across the mountains became a thing of the past, families faced the painful reality of vast physical distance. Some merchants returned home to Nepal, while others remained in Tibet, leaving hearts and lineages divided across the high peaks. The documentary tenderly explores the bittersweet longing of a diaspora navigating their identity, holding onto the rich customs of their fathers while living far from the lands that shaped them. Himalayan Dreams: Tales of Lhasa Newar Traders is a deeply moving exploration of home, belonging, and the heavy emotional cost of distance. By capturing the final, emotional testimonies of those who lived this history, directors Loonibha Tuladhar and Tenzing Jigme deliver a powerful cinematic letter to a resilient community and the enduring, invisible threads of love that still connect Nepal and Tibet.

DIRECTOR

Loonibha Tuladhar

BIOGRAPHY

Loonibha Tuladhar is a visionary force in Nepalese cinema, seamlessly blending performance with powerful advocacy behind the camera. While widely celebrated as a trailblazing theatre actor and the iconic creator of the hit talk show Pawankali, her work as a director and filmmaker defines her dedication to the artistic avant-garde.Tuladhar uses independent cinema as a tool against cultural erasure. Her directorial projects focus deeply on indigenous storytelling, capturing raw, marginalized human experiences. She co-directed the acclaimed 40-minute documentary Himalayan Dreams: Tales of Lhasa Newar Traders, which uses archival footage and personal testimonies to document a vanishing chapter of trans-Himalayan trade and transnational identities. Her visual originality previously earned critical praise with her award-winning film Buwegu Maanatuna (The Spinner of Flights), which secured the Encouragement Award to Indigenous Nepali Film at IsumaTV.Beyond directing, Tuladhar is a crucial architect of Nepal’s independent film landscape. She champions authentic perspectives by actively mentoring emerging talent and supporting alternative cinema platforms like the Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival (KIMFF). By demanding stronger female and indigenous representation in media, Tuladhar transforms the camera into a tool for social evolution, standing as an essential auteur reshaping modern Nepalese cinema.

STATEMENT

The Himalayan Dreams

The story is about Tibetan-Nepali, also called Khacharas, who are individuals born to Newar traders in Lhasa and their Tibetan wives. The story is a multidimensional look at the unique historical circumstance and the unfortunate situation faced by the Khacharas in the early 20th century in Tibet and Nepal.

The wider aim of this film is to tell a story of human journey in search of wealth and adventure, the influence that journey had on individuals and society (e.g. Buddhism and arts in Tibet ), and the lesson from that journey for our contemporary times which is the importance of tolerance to different race, background and ideas.

There are many interesting historical events in this story which could make this story to be an interesting and fascinating film.

PRODUCER

Pramod Karki

BIOGRAPHY

Pramod Karki is an elite Director of Photography (DOP) and producer who has spent nearly 30 years shaping the visual soul of Nepalese cinema. Since launching his career in the mid-1990s, Karki has evolved from a foundational music video cinematographer into Nepal’s premier visual architect for large-scale reality television, hard-hitting social documentaries, and globally recognized feature films.Karki revolutionized the television landscape by lensing major international formats. He crafted the tense studio aesthetics for Ko Banchha Crorepati (KBC Nepal) and defined the rugged, high-energy cinematic style of Himalaya Roadies. His versatile lens seamlessly shifts to narrative features; he shot the critically acclaimed social dramas Neerphool (2023) and Tara – The Lost Star (2024), the latter earning global acclaim at the Cannes International Film Festival market. He further expanded his impact as a producer on the powerful social feature Shakti (2025).A passionate documentarian, Karki uses his camera to fight cultural erasure and cover global crises. He served as producer and DOP for the acclaimed documentary Himalayan Dreams: Tales of Lhasa Newar Traders, while also lensing vital projects like the LGBTQ+ movement documentary Other Nature (2010) and Midnight. Climate. Survival. (2020). Karki remains a true cinematic titan of Nepal.

CO-DIRECTOR

Tenzing Jigme (Tuladhar)

Director of Photography — Pramod Karki

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Runtime: 39 min 15 sec

Aspect ratio: 16:9 / 1.78:1

Resolution: 1080p

Audio: Stereo

Color: Mixed

FESTIVAL SELECTIONS

NIFF — 2026 — Official Selection — Nepal

PRODUCTION NOTES

Film Title: Himalayan Dreams: Tales of Lhasa Newar Traders

Runtime: 39 minutes 15 seconds

Genre: Documentary / Cultural / History

Directors: Loonibha Tuladhar and Tenzing Jigme (Tuladhar)

Country of Production: Nepal