On November 11, 2016, the Bhutan Foundation in partnership with the Lonestar Film Festival in Fort Worth, Texas, hosted a Texas premiere of the film, Power of the River: Expedition to the Heart of Water in Bhutan. We were honored to show this film in commemoration with the 61st Birth Anniversary of the Fourth King of Bhutan, His Majesty Druk Gyalpo Jigme Singye Wangchuck. His Majesty’s vision for the country has led Bhutan to become the leader and model for environmental conservation. Today, Bhutan’s law mandates that the country have at least 60 percent forest cover at all times—Bhutan exceeds that at 80.89 percent.
The Power of the River helps viewers understand the dynamics of balancing the needs of modernization and growth in Bhutan today with ecological decisions. Bhutan’s primary revenue source is hydropower, and quotas with India would require damming every river. The film walks us through Karma’s expedition of Bhutan’s mightiest river, the Drangme Chhu, and the need to keep it undammed.
After the film, a panel discussed the rivers of Bhutan. On the panel were Bhutan’s lead Environmental Advocate and Advisor to the National Environment Commission of Bhutan, Dasho Paljor (Benji) Dorji; Bhutan Foundation Executive Director, Mr. Tshewang Wangchuk; and Filmmaker of Power of the River, Mr. Greg Hamilton. Bhutan Foundation President, Dr. Bruce Bunting, moderated the discussion.
We are excited to bring the film to Washington, DC, in Spring 2017, where it will be shown at the Environmental Film Festival in the Nation’s Capital. To learn more about the film, visit: www.poweroftherivermovie.com.
