WE ARE RAISING MONEY TO FUND THE PRODUCTION OF THIS DOCUMENTARY FILM.

IF YOU MISSED THE DEADLINE AND WOULD STILL LIKE TO CONTRIBUTE, WE HAVE A PAYPAL BUTTON ON OUR WEBSITE. 

How it works

Crowd-funding! Everyone we know tells everyone they know and the combined force of hundreds of people donating just a few dollars (or hopefully a little more) builds the financial foundations to propel this project to its next stage.  In Nepal people are doing something small to big effect. We need you all to do something small to help us, in order that we can share these womens stories with the world. 

What we are asking...

First and foremost we would like your support and encouragement. In whatever form that takes. Clearly, we are running this campaign to raise money, so ideally in a monetary form, however small or large. 

If you can't afford to donate, please help us by forwarding this to your friends, sharing this campaign, 'like' it on facebook, follow us on twitter and generally spread the word - buttons/'share tools' and all that malarkey!   Help us reach our funding goal so we can get the first part of the story in the can.

We have raised $10,000 from private donors and combining that with the $10,000 from this campaign will fund the first round of shooting.  Though we are happily donating our time and gear to the project there are some additional fixed costs we need help with.  These funds are not being used for wages.  Your donation will help pay for production and insurance costs in Nepal, accommodation, travel and permits as well as everything from securing translators, to buying supplies of batteries needed to shoot in remote mountain villages with no power supply. 

 For those of you in the U.S., for donations over $250, we can make your contribution tax deductible through our fiscal sponsor. Please contact Miranda for details.

The Project

Shakti Pictures presents Daughters of the Curved Moon a documentary film                 

The inspiration for this film came in the attic classroom of a community building in a town called Jumla in the Karnali Zone of western Nepal.  Surrounded by women, singing and dancing, Miranda saw a story of hope and change unfold in front of her eyes.  A story that needed to be shared.

The women [of Nepal] are thought of as ornaments of the house in theory and slaves in practice. Kathmandu Post

Though the rural women of Nepal are dealt an unfair hand in life, perceptions are starting to change.  Small educational programs and charities are reaching out to this remote mountain region, offering women the practical tools to become self-supporting. These programs believe that these are strong women, who given the chance, and a little support, can transform their lives.

Artfully shot with the breathtaking Himalayas as a cinematic landscape, the documentary Daughters of the Curved Moon will follow the lives of three women participating in a mobile training course; the film will be a sensitive insight into to this community rarely seen and a fascinating account of this transformative time in their social history.   Through close hand observation of their daily living we will form a narrative portrait of the womens position in society, their attitudes and hopes and the incredible hurdles that they face, giving them a chance to share their remarkable stories.

Working in collaboration with Empowering Women of Nepal (EWN), the charity that runs the 'mobile trainings', we are going to the Himalayas in autumn 2011 to shoot the training and follow the lives of the women in their homes. EWN appreciate the value of raising global awareness of the plight of women in Nepal.

For more information check out our website: www.shaktipictures.com

Who?

Miranda Morton Yap and Sophie Dia Pegrum founded Shakti Pictures to make this film.

Miranda Morton Yap: Producer/Director

Miranda has worked as a facilitator, coordinator, producer and organiser in the creative arts for over a decade, for multiple projects ranging from commercials, short films, stage productions, to booking bands on tours and producing fundraising charity events. Recently involved with the Empowering Women of Nepal trainings, the inspiration she found on this journey sparked a desire to share the stories of the vibrant people she encountered.

Sophie Dia Pegrum: Director/DP

Directing and shooting her own projects, her recent projects include 77 Below a documentary on a California artist and her sculptural installation on the Ross Ice Shelf.  (77below.com) She shot in Antarctica as well as at the North Pole.  She also co-owns a niche film company, Horsefly Films, focusing on equestrian subject matter, producing promotional films, training videos, national commercials and documentaries. Their most recent venture, Path to Glory, a documentary on the history of the Polish Arabian horse, premieres in the U.S. and Poland in 2011.  (horseflyfilms.com)  

Contact us

info@shaktipictures.com

"Gender equality is more than a goal in itself. It is a precondition for meeting the challenge of reducing poverty, promoting sustainable development and building good governance."

-Kofi Annan - Former UN secretary General