Presents

LOOKING FOR A LADY WITH FANGS AND A MOUSTACHE

Virtual Live Premiere on April 8, 2021 and

Worldwide Watch Now @ Home Cinema Release on April 9, 2021

Written and Directed by

Khyentse Norbu (The Cup, Travellers and Magicians, Vara: A Blessing)

Produced by Max Dipesh Khatri

Executive Produced by Olivia Harrison, Zhuangzhuang Tian, Ram Raju, Aona Liu, and Kate McCreery
Cinematographer Mark Lee Ping-bing (In the Mood For Love)
Starring: Tsering Tashi Gyalthang, Tulku Kunzang, Orgen Tobgyal Rinpoche,
Tenzin Kunsel, Tulku Ngawang Tenzin, Rabindra Singh Baniya

Official Selection of: Tribeca Film Festival, Osaka Film Festival, and Morelia International Film Festival

For More Information, Please Contact:

EricaAbrams@FalcoInk.com | AllisonLambdin@FalcoInk.com
Falco Ink.
212-445-7100

Gitesh Pandya
gpandya@boxofficeguru.com
 LOGLINE
When a series of visions send a skeptical entrepreneur to seek spiritual advice, an eccentric Buddhist
monk predicts his imminent death, unless he can locate an elusive lady with fangs.

SYNOPSIS
KATHMANDU, NEPAL: TENZIN (30’s, Tibetan, driven by worldly success) is single-mindedly focused on
creating Kathmandu’s first “European style” cafe. While hunting for the perfect location, he visits a
long-abandoned temple in the center of Kathmandu, snapping photographs of the ancient sacred art.
Later that day, during a music lesson with his closest friend JACHUNG (30’s, Tibetan, hopeless romantic,
and devoted Buddhist), Tenzin has a strange vision of a young girl in a poppy field, singing a haunting
tune. Jolted back to reality, he pushes the image out of his mind -- just a peculiar reaction to stress, he’s
sure.

Tenzin awakens to another chilling hallucination, this time of his long-dead sister. He confides in Jachung,
who insists that Tenzin seek advice from a notorious Buddhist monk oracle, warning “this could be a bad
omen.” Tenzin, a committed atheist, balks at Jachung’s alarm, brushing him off as superstitious.

Tenzin’s visions increase as he stubbornly forges ahead with his cafe plans, finally finding a location in a
trendy area of Kathmandu. Convinced his luck has changed, he throws a party to celebrate. When
Jachung arrives with the MONK ORACLE (20’s, addicted to his iPad, always in sunglasses) in tow, Tenzin
reluctantly agrees to a private audience and relays a detailed account of his visions.

The monk makes a terrifying prediction -- Tenzin’s visions are a sign that his “life force” is running out,
and death is imminent. Unconvinced by the monk’s diagnosis he visits a doctor but is disappointed to
discover there is no medical explanation for his visions. Throughout it all, Tenzin tries his best to carry on
with day-to-day life. KUNSEL (20’s, a gifted musician and Jachung’s crush) tutors Tenzin and Jachung as
they prepare for a performance of the Dramyin (the traditional Himalayan lute beloved by Tenzin’s
mother) and development begins at his new cafe. But Tenzin’s visions become more and more
frightening. With mystical and magical experiences invading his life, his carefully constructed reality
begins to unravel. In desperation, Tenzin visits the monk again, this time prepared to take his advice
seriously.

Now the prediction is even more alarming: Tenzin has been cursed, and will certainly die in seven days
unless he can find a “dakini” (a mysterious living being -- the embodiment of Buddhist teachings on
“feminine energy”). The monk sends Tenzin to a BUDDHIST MASTER (60’s, master of the “Left-Hand
Lineage” -- a grumpy, enlightened sage) who gives specific instructions: When he finds a woman with
fangs, a moustache, and perhaps a third eye, he must offer her a gift, of food, tools, shells, or a single
shoe. Ideally, if she is a dakini, she will offer him a gift in return but if not, he is instructed to steal
something from her. Finally, in order to confirm his discovery, the master gives Tenzin a highly guarded
and secret “mudra” (a sacred hand gesture). If the fanged woman is truly a dakini she will understand the
mudra and reveal herself. But there is a catch -- Tenzin can only safely perform the mudra three times.
Tenzin retreats from everything once important to him -- the coffee shop, his business partners, and
friends, trolling the Kathmandu streets searching for a dakini. Day after day Tenzin fails and returns to the
master for further teachings and advice. On the sixth and final day of his life, a hopeless Tenzin travels to
the country to bid farewell to his mother, and on his way back he runs into Kunsel. Viewed in a new light,
is it possible that Kunsel, who had been so close this entire time, is the dakini? Finally, suspending all
disbelief, he performs the secret mudra for Kunsel but to his dismay, she looks at him in confusion and
rushes away. Tenzin continues to wander the streets until he spots another potential dakini in a crowded
market. Desperate to save himself in his final hours, he steals the woman’s purse and runs off into the
night. Uncertain whether his actions have saved him, he awaits the new day, terrified.

The sun rises on the seventh day, illuminating Tenzin, still alive. Joyous, and with a renewed appreciation
for life, he rushes to Jachung’s house and together they find Kunsel to share the good news. As they greet
each other, Kunsel shocks Tenzin by performing the secret mudra.

Is Kunsel truly a dakini who saved Tenzin’s life, or was it all an elaborate ruse to force Tenzin into
embracing his mystical and religious heritage? Either way, his near-death experience has transformed him
forever, from a rational businessman with his head down, to a spiritual seeker with an open heart.
 DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT
In this modern, scientific world – a world on the verge of creating artificial intelligence, and a world that
disparages anything not amenable to reason – I try in this film to explore some of the last genuine
residues of Tibetan mysticism. Even among Tibetans themselves, their traditional beliefs and ways of
behaving and looking at the world are increasingly rare and today carry little if any weight. And yet, I
believe this ancient wisdom, which reflects the Buddhist view of reality, has something vital to offer our
modern world. Especially, I intend this film to express the deep respect for feminine energy embodied in
that wisdom, and to portray in a contemporary setting both the transformative power of this energy and
some of the ways it has traditionally been evoked.

Because it brings together so dramatically these modern and ancient worlds, I felt Nepal to be an ideal
setting for this film. Besides the mountains and trekking for which it is popularly known, Nepal is a very
spiritual and magical place, and I want to capture that quality both through the eyes of local inhabitants
and in the way the film is shot.

For example, I will give the audience plenty of time for contemplation, so images may not move fast and
may even stand still for a period. As well, I want to catch the magical qualities of life through the eyes of
a character who is really panicked, which we’ll do by using hand-held cameras. It’s precisely because this
film will evoke contemplation that I wanted to work with the Director of Photography Mark Lee Ping
Bing. I have always had the highest respect for his sensitivity, contemplative style, and amazing capacity
to capture images..

I used only non-professional actors, not only because – unlike in the west – there are few trained actors
in Nepal, but also because the characters I am trying to portray have to be really genuine. For example,
one of the characters is portrayed by an actual highly respected spiritual master whose qualities and
demeanor a hundred thousand trained actors could not fathom let alone convey.

Sadly, these days, we see everything from fashion and consumer goods to storytelling, books and films
increasingly produced according to set formulae that are proven to “sell the product.” Though few films
today escape the enormous influence of the Hollywood and Bollywood formulae, I want to explore in this
film a distinctive Himalayan way of expression and storytelling that is true to this region’s culture,
tradition and wisdom.

In such ways, and through its atmosphere and techniques, I hope this film will transport audiences to a
profound, mystical, and yet very real and accessible dimension of life with which our modern world is
sadly and rapidly losing touch.
- Khyentse Norbu
 FILMMAKER BIOS

KHYENTSE NORBU | Director

Born in 1961 in Bhutan, Khyentse Norbu has written and directed several award-winning feature films,
receiving accolades and honors at numerous prestigious international film festivals.

His first film The Cup (1999) became an international sensation after its premiere screening at the Cannes
Film Festival’s prestigious Director’s Fortnight. It went on to win critical acclaim and official selections at
major festivals worldwide, including Sundance, Hong Kong, London and Moscow. It won awards at four
international festivals, including an International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) award at Busan and
an audience award at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Norbu’s second film, Travellers & Magicians (2003), was the first full-length feature film shot in the
Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan. It premiered at the Venice International Film Festival and went on to the
Toronto, Busan, Golden Horse (Taipei), Sao Paulo, London, Sydney, Moscow and other international film
festivals, winning three awards.

His third feature film Vara: A Blessing (2013), based on a short story by Bengali author Sunil
Gangopadhyay and filmed in Sri Lanka, attracted top international collaborators including award-winning
cinematographer Bradford Young and acclaimed editor William Chang and starred Indian ingenue,
Shahana Goswami.

Vara premiered as the Opening Film at the Busan International Film Festival and went on to screen at
several film festivals world-wide including the BFI London Film Festival, the Taipei Golden Horse Film
Festival, and the Tribeca International Film Festival, where it had its North American Premiere and won
the Best Feature Film award at the Tribeca Online Film Festival.

Hema Hema: Sing Me a Song While I Wait (2016), the director's fourth feature film, is probably his most
personal to date. Shot in remote parts of Bhutan on a very low budget, the film premiered at the Locarno
Film Festival and was screened at the Toronto, Busan, Singapore, and Malaysian International Film
Festivals, and at the London BFI, JIO Mama (Mumbai), Osaka Asian, and Taipei Golden Horse Film
Festivals.

The film won the audience choice award at the 2016 Golden Global Awards at the Malaysian
International Film Festival and ‘Honorable Mention’ at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival
Platforms Prize.

Known in the Buddhist world as Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche, Norbu brings to his films a profound and
subtle mastery and understanding of Buddhist philosophy and practice. He is an internationally
renowned Buddhist teacher, best-selling author of several books, founder of several major philanthropic
organizations, and head of monasteries and institutes of Buddhist Studies in Tibet, India and Bhutan.

MARK LEE PING-BING | Cinematographer

Mark Lee Ping-Bing, born 8 August 1954, is a Taiwanese cinematographer, photographer and author with
over 70 films and 21 inter- national awards to his credit including two Glory Of The Country Awards from
the Government Information Office of Taiwan and the president of Taiwan’s Light Of The Cinema Award.
Lee began his film career in 1977 and in 1985 he started his prolific collaboration with Taiwanese
filmmaker Hou Hsiao-hsien. Known best for his use of natural lighting utilizing real film and graceful cam
era movement, Lee received the Grand Technical Prize at the Cannes Film Festival in 2000 for In the
Mood for Love. A member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Lee was honored with
nominations by the American Society of Cinematographers for its 2014 First Annual Spotlight Award for
Best Cinematography for his work on the 2012 film Renoir and by the French Academy of Cinema Arts for
a Cesar Award for Best Cinematography in 2014 also for the film Renoir.

OLIVIA HARRISON | Executive Producer

Olivia Harrison is a Mexican-American film producer, philanthropist and the widow of musician George
Harrison of The Beatles.
Olivia produced the Grammy award winning film of the 2002 Concert For George which she organized to
benefit the Material World Foundation in memory of George. Olivia also received an Emmy for
Outstanding Nonfiction Special from the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in 2012 for her role as
producer on the Martin Scorsese directed documentary: George Harrison: Living in the Material World.
She curated books to accompany both these films, and in 2017 compiled a revised edition of George's
1980 autobiography: I, Me, Mine.

ABOUT SHATKON ARTS

Shatkon Arts was established in 2006 with the primary objective of developing, fostering and supporting
a culture of independent theatre and film in Nepal’s emerging arts industry. Established by dedicated
theatre artists and film enthusiasts, Shatkon Arts also aims to showcase Nepalese culture and arts in the
international arena and thereby to expand their scope and influence. In particular, Shatkon Arts aspires
to provide a robust and supportive platform for young, creative Nepalese minds to explore, develop and
make their mark in Nepal’s art and culture world.

In its initial years Shatkon Arts produced several plays that were performed in various national and
international theatre festivals, including performances were at the Aarohan National Theatre Festival
(2007), Kathmandu International Theatre Festival (2008), Patumthani International Theatre Festival,
Thailand (2009), and Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Scotland (2009).

In 2014, Shatkon Arts produced Nepal’s multiple award-winning film Talakjung vs Tulke that was selected
as the Nepalese entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 88th Academy Awards. Its latest
production Jatra (2016) also won multiple awards, including Nepal’s best film, best director and best
actor in the 2017 national critics’ awards.

Shatkon Arts is now home to Nepal’s leading producers and is particularly committed to nurturing,
supporting and training young talent; giving promising young Nepalese film makers, cameramen, sound,
lighting and other technicians the opportunity to work alongside highly qualified professionals in large
productions; and otherwise building a strong, viable and creative film industry in Nepal.
About Abramorama

Abramorama is the preeminent global theatrical distribution and rights management partner for
documentary and music films and is recognized for the consistent high quality of its work on award
winning features. An innovator in the focused, personalized form of film marketing, promotion,
distribution and live, event and digital cinema, Abramorama provides invaluable alternatives to
filmmakers while continuing to trail-blaze exciting new pathways to defined audiences.

Over the course of 20 years, Abramorama has successfully distributed and marketed hundreds of films,
including Ron Howard’s Grammy Award®-winning The Beatles: Eight Days A Week – The Touring Years;
Stanley Nelson’s Miles Davis: Birth of The Cool; Atlantic Records and Melanie Martinez’ K-12; John
McDermott’s Jimi Hendrix: Electric Church; Amir Bar-Lev's Long Strange Trip – The Untold Story of the
Grateful Dead; Tabbert Fiiller’s The Public Image Is Rotten; Danny Clinch and Pearl Jam’s Let’s Play Two;
Corbett Redford and Green Day’s Turn It Around: The Story of East Bay Punk; John Scheinfeld’s Chasing
Trane – The John Coltrane Documentary; Roberta Grossman and Nancy Spielberg’s Who Will Write Our
History; Brett Bern's BANG! The Bert Berns Story; Brett Morgen and National Geographic’s seminal Jane;
Asif Kapadia’s Senna; Neil Young’s vast catalog of Bernard Shakey Productions; Cameron Crowe’s Pearl
Jam Twenty; Sacha Gervasi’s Spirit Award-winning Anvil! The Story of Anvil; Banksy’s Academy Award®
nominated & Spirit Award-winning Exit Through the Gift Shop; Laurie Anderson’s New York Times critics’
pick, Heart of a Dog; Showtime’s National Board of Review Winner Listen to Me Marlon; Academy
Award®-nominee and IDA Best Documentary Winner The Look of Silence; and the episodic
multi-platform series Deconstructing The Beatles. Abramorama is a founding partner of The Seventh Art
Stand program, an act of cinematic solidarity against Islamophobia, that ran in more than 50 theaters
across the United States in May of 2017. Abramorama launched a conscious films imprint, Mangurama,
in 2018 alongside its music-centric film fund focused on the global release of iconic music
documentaries. In January of 2019 the company launched the live multicast streaming enterprise
ABCinemaNOW.com with the global live introduction, interstitial programming, and Q&A from Paris,
France for the 55-country release of Who Will Write Our History. In 2020 Abramorama Selects was
launched providing a gateway for select films across global VOD platforms. For more information visit
abramorama.com.
 END CREDITS

A Shatkon Arts Production

In Association with

Kun Kum Production

Philosojoy Production

Presents

Tsering Tashi Gyalthang

Tulku Kungzang
Ngawang Tenzin
Tenzin Kunsel
In

LOOKING FOR A LADY WITH FANGS AND A MOUSTACHE

Nepal the land of "Mount Everest",

the abode of the sacred mother
where an infant girl is still revered above all.
Reverence for the sacred feminine may be waning,
but the dakinis still grace the streets of Kathmandu.

---

Written and Directed by

Khyentse Norbu

Produced by
Max Dipesh Khatri

Director of Photography
Mark Lee Ping Bing

Editor
Yu Tao

Supervising Sound Editors

Tu Duu-Chih, Wu Shu-Yao
 Executive Producers
Zhuangzhuang Tian
Olivia Harrison
Ram Raju
Aona Liu
Kate McCreery

Producer
Rabindra Singh Baniya

Production Designer Emily Avery Yoshiko Crow

Music by Mars Radio
Make-up Maya Hardinge
Location Sound Mixer Chen Yu-Chieh

1st Assistant Director Fernanda Rivero

Costume Designer Jamyang Choden

Cast

Unique Yellow Dress Girl Barkha Rai

Young Yeti Chokho Girl Chhanya Pradhan
Tenzin’s Sister Dechen Dolkar
Dev Divya Dev
Red Face Motorcycle Woman Jasmi Gurung
Karma Karma Shakya
Tenzin’s Mother Kelsang Chukie Tethong
Music Teacher Loten Namling
Make-up Artist Maya Hardinge
Young Tea Vendor Nistha Sinnya
Flower Eating Woman Olena Skoryk
Master of Left Hand Lineage Orgyen Tobgyal Rinpoche
Parikshit Parikshit B. Rana
Fashion Photographer Penelope Tree
Rabindra Rabindra Singh Baniya
Astrologer Rangdrol Namdrol Sangpo
Tea Vendor Mother Sarada Giri
Hippy Café Server Serena Edwards
Doctor Shreeti Pradhan
Kunsel Tenzin Kunsel
Tenzin Tsering Tashi Gyalthang
Jachung Tulku Kunzang
Monk Tulku Ngawang Tenzin
Singer at Café Luwaks Poo Yunggiema
 “A Little Rain"
Written by Kathleen Brennan and Tom Waits
Published by Jalma Music (ASCAP)
Performed by Tom Waits
Courtesy of Island Records (US)
Under licence from Universal Music Operations Ltd.

"Cucurrucucú paloma"
Written by Tomás Méndez.
Published by Promotora Hispano Americana de Música,S.A.de C.V. (PHAM)
Performed by Ericka Grovas and Miguel Ignacio Peña.
Arranged by Miguel Ignacio peña.
Production Fernanda Rivero and Ángel Sebastián Cortés.

“Bajan”
Written by Michael Stearns
Performed by Viji Subramaniam
©Michael Stearns
Used By Permission. All Rights Reserved.

"Growth”
Written & Performed by Michael Harris
©Michael Harris
Used By Permission. All Rights Reserved.

"Remnants”
Written by Municipality
Performed by Municipality
©Municipality
Used By Permission. All Rights Reserved.

"Left Hand Master”

Written by Radio Mars
©PILOT MUSIC & TECHNOLOGY (BEIJING) Co., Ltd
Performed by Radio Mars
Used By Permission. All Rights Reserved.

“New Delhi Dawn”

Written & Performed by Gaurav Raina
Karsh Kale
Wayne Sharp
©KILLER TRACKS
Used By Permission. All Rights Reserved.

“Keep The Fire Burning”

Written & Performed by Steve Carter
 ©CPM
Used By Permission. All Rights Reserved.

“Lonely Rita”
Written & Performed by Movement Needs Music
©GUM TAPES
Used By Permission. All Rights Reserved.

“Happy Mountain”
Written & Performed by Denis Hekimian
©KOKA
Used By Permission. All Rights Reserved.

“Attencion”
Written & Performed by Calvin K. Samuel
Josh Kessler
Marc Ferrari
Sebastian Bardin-Greenberg
©MASTERSOURCE
Used By Permission. All Rights Reserved.

“Bloom”
Written & Performed by Robin Everitt
Steve Everitt
©NOVA
Used By Permission. All Rights Reserved.

“Born To Be Somebody”
Written & Performed by Steve Vaus
©ONEMUSIC
Used By Permission. All Rights Reserved.

“Love Ride”
Written & Performed by Paul Hardcastle
©SOHO
Used By Permission. All Rights Reserved.

“European Love Affair”

Written & Performed by David Arnold
Paul Brian Hart
©SOHO
Used By Permission. All Rights Reserved.

“Comforts”
Written & Performed by Jakko Jakszyk
©SOHO
Used By Permission. All Rights Reserved.
 “Stroll In The Park”
Written & Performed by Jennifer E Condos
Mark Goldenberg
©SPOT ON
Used By Permission. All Rights Reserved.

“Sweet Bling”
Written & Performed by Ruben Ayala
Skinny Williams
©VELOCITY
Used By Permission. All Rights Reserved.

“Girl In Blue Sing”

Written by Radio Mars
©PILOT MUSIC & TECHNOLOGY (BEIJING) Co., Ltd
Performed by Radio Mars
Used By Permission. All Rights Reserved.

“Monk Walk And FengMa”

Written by Radio Mars
©PILOT MUSIC & TECHNOLOGY (BEIJING) Co., Ltd
Performed by Radio Mars
Used By Permission. All Rights Reserved.

“Chasing Girl In Yellow”

Written by Radio Mars
©PILOT MUSIC & TECHNOLOGY (BEIJING) Co., Ltd
Performed by Radio Mars
Used By Permission. All Rights Reserved.

“Coffee Shop Opening Party”

Written by Radio Mars
©PILOT MUSIC & TECHNOLOGY (BEIJING) Co., Ltd
Performed by Radio Mars
Used By Permission. All Rights Reserved.

“Yati Chokho Yati”

Written & Performed by Narayan Gopal
© Music Nepal Pvt.Ltd.
Used By Permission. All Rights Reserved.

“Om Hara Hara Mahadev”

Lyrics: Khemraj Keshavsaran/
Vocals: Meera Rana, Dwarika Lal Joshi & Friends
Music : Natikaji
©Radio Nepal
Used By Permission. All Rights Reserved.
 “Kutu Ma Kutu Supari Dana”
Lyrics: Rajan Raj Shiwakoti
Music: Rajan Raj Shiwakoti
Vocals: Rajan Raj Shiwakoti/Melina Rai/ Rajan Ishan
© Highlights Nepal Pvt. Ltd.
Used By Permission. All Rights Reserved.

“Sirima Siri Ni Kanchhi”

Lyrics: Gyanu Rana
Singer: Narayan Gopal & Gyanu Rana
Music: Gyanu Rana
© Music Nepal Pvt.Ltd.
Used By Permission. All Rights Reserved.

“Jham Jham_TCC”
Lyrics : Pashupati Sharma
Singer : Pashupati Sharma and Ramila Neupane
Music : Pashupati Sharma
© Music Nepal Pvt.Ltd.
Used By Permission. All Rights Reserved.

“Kya Dami Bho”

Lyrics: Rajendra Thapa
Singer: Shiva Pariyar
Music: Chandi Prasad Kafle
© Music Nepal Pvt.Ltd.
Used By Permission. All Rights Reserved.

Copyright 2019 Shatkon Arts PVT. LTD All rights reserved.