Nepalese filmmaker Veemsen Lama announces the online release of his award-winning short film "MAYA". The film tells the story of three homeless children in Kathmandu, Nepal who escape slave traders but find themselves living on the streets with only hopes for a better life. "MAYA" has received international acclaim, winning several awards at film festivals. It can now be rented or purchased on Vimeo to watch. Profits will support charities helping children affected by Nepal's 2015 earthquake. Veemsen is a former Gurkha soldier who studied filmmaking and founded his production company Javiya Films to tell stories from his experiences.

1. PRESS ENQUIRIES
Marie Dubreuil
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‘MAYA’ by Veemsen Lama
Nepalese filmmaker & former Gurkha soldier Veemsen Lama and his crew
announce the online release of their award-winning and internationally ac-
claimed short film
1/2
While on a trip to his home country a few
years ago, film director Veemsen Lama wit-
nessed the horrifying poverty some children
were living in. From this experience, he cre-
ated the universal story of MAYA and turned
it into a short film. ‘MAYA is about survival,
hopes and dreams’, Veemsen explains.
Shot in Nepali language, the film relates the
life of three homeless children, Maya, Bikram
and Kancha, who escape from the slave trad-
ers, only to find themselves trapped in the
heart of Kathmandu in Nepal. Vulnerable,
penniless and alone, they are forced to live
their life on the streets with only hopes and
dreams of happiness.
MAYA’s story has touched more than one
heart, in more than one country. Over the
past year, the short film has been selected
and nominated at numerous festivals around
the world, including Raindance Film Festival
2015 where it was part of the official selection,
and acclaimed internationally; >
> MAYA won “Best International Short
Film” at the London Independent Film
Festival 2016, “BKSTS Student Film Of
The Year” at Bradford Widescreen Week-
end 2015, and “Best Foreign Film” at El
Dorado International Film Festival 2016.
A year and a half after the end of the shoot
in the Nepalese capital, director Veemsen
Lama and his crew announce the online
release of this award-winning short film.
MAYA is available on Vimeo on Demand
for rent ($1.49 for a 48-hour streaming
period) or purchase ($2.99) to enjoy this
touching story from home until the end of
time. >

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> The short film’s director,
Veemsen Lama, and his
producer, Tom Cullingham,
had just come back from
Nepal when a destructive
earthquake stroke the coun-
try in May last year. Shortly
after this tragedy, both men
managed to raise £850 for
a new earthquake-proof
home as well as £1,400 for
C.H.A.N.C.E for Nepal, Free-
dom Matters and MAITI
Nepal.
Today, the team continues
to support C.H.A.N.C.E for
Nepal (Children’s Health and
Nutrition Care and Education
helps under-privileged chil-
dren) and MAITI Nepal by
donating 25% of their profits
to the two associations, in
support of their continued
efforts to help the children
and families, who fell victim
to the devastating quake.
ABOUT THE DIRECTOR, VEEMSEN LAMA
Born and raised in Nepal, Veemsen Lama is no ordinary
umpteenth London-based filmmaker. From a very young
age, he developed a passion for storytelling, and so at the
dawn of his adult life, he promised himself to do all it
would take to make his dreams come true. That notably
meant enrolling in the British Armed Forces, which he
served for several years. Once he had taken and passed all
of the rough tests to become a Gurkha, Veemsen finally
set foot in England. Determined to tell the world the var-
ious stories he had and would encounter, he first started
learning about filmmaking through books and YouTube
tutorials while still in the army. A year after a redundancy
process - which he was a part of - Veemsen started stud-
ying Digital Film Production at Ravensbourne (London)
in September 2013. A fresh graduate since mid-2015,
Veemsen is now at the head of his own independent film
production company, Javiya Films, which he named after
his daughter.
PRESS INFORMATION
MAYA on Vimeo on Demand:
https://vimeo.com/onde-
mand/thefilmmaya/
MAYA on Facebook
@theshortfilmmaya
MAYA on Twitter
@TheFilmMaya
Javiya Films Website
http://www.javiyafilms.com/
Veemsen Lama’s Website
http://www.veemsenlama.
com/
© All visuals by Javiya Films