The short ceremony was held during the Asian Forum “Celebrating Synodality and Indigenous living traditions in the Church in Asia” that took place at the Caritas Nepal center in the traditional mountainous town of Dhulikhel between 10 and 16 of November 2024. Archbishop Simon Poh, an active pastor in Kuching, working for the inculturation of the Gospel among Indigenous Peoples of his land, gave the recognition to Bimal for his short film “Holy Journey of Nature, Culture, and the Divine Power”. The film is an extraordinary work dedicated to the beauty of Nepal landscape, where Indigenous Peoples live in harmony with nature. Mother Christine Mynsong, Superior General of the Missionary Sisters of Mary Help of Christians of Hatigaon, Guwahati, India, was also present as a member of the Asian Salesian Family and her work with Indigenous Peoples as well from the Salesian Preventive System.

Fr.Albeiro Rodas, director of the Namuncurá Indigenous Short Film Festival, explained the reason behind the dedication of the Festival to Blessed Ceferino Namuncurá:

Ceferino was an Indigenous Mapuche from Argentina, a student of the Salesians at the beginning of the 20th century,who died in Italy very young, leaving a fame of holiness and compromise for his own people. He said: “I want to help my people” and he became an icon of holiness for the Indigenous Peoples, especially the young. I hope that the Catholic Church can recognize in the decades to come more Indigenous Peoples in their holiness, resilience, wisdom and martyrdom.

During the ceremony at the heart of the Asian Forum on Indigenous Peoples and Synodal Church, there was a recognition for two other films, both from Timor-Leste. Fr Jolino Viera, the Salesian communications  delegate for his province, received the recognition in the name of Estela M. Eka for “The Cultural and Religious Values of Tais Timor” (second place) and Ilídio N. da Costa Bosco for “Revival of Ancient’s Wisdom.” Other countries that participated in this first version of the Indigenous Short Film Festival were Cambodia, India and Malaysia.

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