Filmmaker propels Nepali runner onto foreign stage

The first time Britain's Lloyd Belcher met Mira Rai, it was in October 2014 and he was shooting promotional images of Mira, a young woman from a Nepalese village, in Hong Kong.

Later, he got the idea to make a film about her.

"Her story is a perfect combination of athleticism and art, which would be best captured in a motion film," Belcher says.

The short film will be screened in Beijing on June 24 at the Banff Mountain Film Festival, which will tour the country this summer.

It follows the Nepali woman on her pursuit to become a world-recognized mountain runner.

"The reason to film Mira is to raise the profile of a relatively unknown runner who, at that time, had great potential," says Belcher.

"Also, I hope to convey the idea of never giving up on your dreams to the audience."

Since being released last year, Mira has been a huge sensation in Nepal.

The film has been shown in mobile cinemas in the country, so locals can watch at a school, community hall or just in vacant space.

It all started with just a camera - and no funding.

From February 2015, the director spent one year traveling across Nepal, China and Australia, and with other footage supplied in Italy, Spain and France, to complete shooting the film on his own.

"Electricity shortage, risky shooting locale, working solo, language difficulties and red tape - I have encountered many challenges during the shooting process," he recalls.

As Belcher shared some behind-the-scenes photos on social media, a growing number of netizens started to follow him and support the film financially.

Through crowdfunding, the director has gained enough money to cover the basic necessities: transportation, accommodation, food and translation service.

Before the film, Rai was unknown and lived in a poor family. Now she has become a celebrity in her country.

"This is more than a documentary to record her life, but also a good opportunity for her to get onto the international stage and have the chance to compete in running."

Locals have been amazed by Rai's instant fame after shooting the short film.

But Belcher believes the power of a film is limited as it can only affect a certain group of people, not the whole society.

He says Nepal has to work more toward gender equality.

"However, as long as my film can touch the hearts of some Nepali women, and call for more people to do something meaningful, it is enough," he says.

"I have talked with many Nepali women, and they have been encouraged by my film. Some of them long to be the next Mira and they have taken some practical action to change their lifestyle," he says.

Belcher, who has been living in Hong Kong since he was very young, was a runner himself, completing difficult mountain races including the Dragon's Back Race in 2015 (322 kilometers across Wales) and the Ultra Trail Mount Fuji (161 kilometers, in Japan).

"Running is an integral part of my life. Thanks to my running skills developed over a long time, I can get control of the camera and capture quality images in motion under pressure," says Belcher.

When asked if he would shoot a film about a Chinese runner, Belcher says he has considered it, but has yet to find the right story so far. He plans to keep searching.

"I will not yield to any principles or rules. Factors including business cooperation, the lure of money or market response will get in the way of my filmmaking. Making film is a pure thing and I am enjoying it," he says.

"Shooting a film is a two-way information-exchange process. I can convey what I want to my audience, and I can also gain something beneficial from the people I have interacted with during the process."

Director Lloyd Belcher (right) shares his filming experience with moviegoers on May 20 in Beijing. His short film records the journey of a high-altitude runner from Nepal, Mira Rai. Photos Provided To China Daily