From Bhutan to Singapore: Honeygiver Among The Dogs Takes the Spotlight
Been rolling through film festivals for a while, that’s Honeygiver Among The Dogs, and it’s finally getting a Singaporean prime time—at the local Buddhist film festival in September.
A First‑Time Moment
This year’s Five‑Year‑Old Thus Have I Seen Buddhist Film Festival (THISBFF), occurring Sept 22‑29, will feature a Bhutanese film for the first time in its history. That’s a big deal for the small Himalayan nation.
Meet the Trailblazer
Director Dechen Roder is one of Bhutan’s pioneering female filmmakers. Her 2016 debut (“Honeygiver Among The Dogs”) blends the mysticism of Buddhism and tradition with the gritty charm of film‑noir traditions.
The story follows detective Kinley (Jamming Jamtsho Wangchuk) who is sent to a remote Bhutan region to investigate a missing Buddhist nun. He goes undercover and ends up partnering with the enigmatic Choden (Sonam Tasha Choden), a woman who the locals suspect is a demonic figure. As Kinley dives deeper into her world, his boss pulls him from the case, leaving him spiraling into nightmares.
Picture this: detective, mystic, mystery, – and a pit of supernatural tooth‑picks every night of schedule.
Dechen’s Film History
- Long‑time short‑film & documentary maker since 2004
- Screened on Bhutan’s national TV
- Showcased across Hong Kong, India, Bhutan, and Japan
- Debut at Busan International Film Festival (2016)
- Premiered at France’s Festival du Nouveau Cinéma & Berlin Film Festival
- Three awards at Switzerland’s Fribourg International Film Festival
- Screenings at Poland, Switzerland, Taipei, Australia, and Japan
In a recent interview with Bhutan Times, Dechen expressed her desire to bring the film back home to more Bhutanese audiences. “I’ve shown it in Thimphu, but I’d love to tour it across Bhutan someday,” she said, eyeing her next project “I, the Song.”
Singapore Line‑up
After THISBFF, the film will appear at various US and European festivals. In Singapore, it will be shown Sept 22 at 6:30 pm at Shaw Theatres, Lido. Tickets are on sale via Sistic.
Panel Talk & Trendsetter
Dechen will travel to Singapore to attend the festival and host a dialogue on Sept 23, partnering with Taiwanese filmmaker Lin Li Fang on the obstacles of making religiously themed films.
She reflected on growing up in Bhutan, where stories of dakinis—female embodiments of enlightenment—were common, but now are less frequent because “the male lens” dominates. Meeting a real-life dakini made her realize that these stories are more than art; they’re powerful narratives of feminine strength, bravery, compassion, and wisdom.
“Remembering and recognising the dakini becomes more and more important for us as Bhutanese, as women, and as humans,” Dechen added.
Why It Matters
This is more than just a film festival pass: it’s a chance for a female director from a rarely represented country to shine internationally, while encouraging dialogue about gender, spirituality, and storytelling in a new light.
Grab a ticket, enjoy the noir‑y mystery, and experience the mind‑twisting tales of Bhutan’s hidden stories—now under the bright lights of Singapore’s cinema.
