An inspirational story of rebellion, courage and hope as Belmaya, a young Dalit woman in Nepal, silenced and subjugated for most of her life, takes up the movie camera to tell her story.

The film will be preceded by a screening of the short film Stronger directed by Belmaya Nepali. The screening will be followed by a pre-recorded Q&A with directors Belmaya Nepali and Sue Carpenter (a Garden Cinema Member), hosted by Anna Smith.

Orphaned at the age of nine, uneducated, and trapped in an abusive marriage, Belmaya is desperate for independence and determined to create a better life for her young daughter in this extraordinarily intimate documentary. A directorial collaboration between Sue Carpenter and Belmaya Nepali spanning 14 years, the story interweaves observational material with footage shot by Belmaya and takes us on a transformational journey as she stands up to her husband and society, and reclaims her voice through filmmaking.

Best Documentary - UK Asian Film Festival, UK, 2021

Nominee - BIFA 2021 (British Independent Film Awards), Best Documentary and Raindance Discovery Award categories

Nominee - One World Media Awards 2021, Women Entrepreneurs Reporting category

Nepali and English, with English subtitles

Stronger (Belmaya Nepali, 2021, 3min)

An original song by Simi Carpenter and short film by Belmaya Nepali, about a girl’s desire to break free from parental and societal constraints and take control over her own life. The lyrics perfectly fit the theme of South Asian Heritage Month 2024 which is 'Free to be Me.'