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Shangdrok

Tibetan people not only live in Tibet but spread out all over the vast Tibetan plateau in western China. Shangdrok means northern nomads in Tibetan language. Yaks and sheep accompany Tibetan nomads for thousand years, offering not only companionship but providing the materials needed for survival in every aspect of life. However, even on this remote high-altitude plateau, life today becomes increasingly complicated. The green fields of the nomads are gradually disintegrating, and the nomadic lifestyle is fading. There is a small workshop set up in an inconspicuous village on Tibetan plateau that tries to work with the nomads. As a social enterprise, to regain their traditions of yak wool textile craftsmanship, to help the villagers who used to be nomads before lost all their yaks can earn their livings, and make them proud of themselves again. Through this film, we could stand closely by the side and capture the moments objectively. How Tibetan people cherish their traditions and nomadic lifestyle, however losing them gradually at the same time, while facing and embracing rapid modernization.

  • Jared Yeh
    Director
  • Jared Yeh
    Director of Photography
  • Jared Yeh
    Producer
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    北方牧人
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Short
  • Runtime:
    19 minutes 18 seconds
  • Country of Origin:
    Taiwan
  • Country of Filming:
    China
  • Language:
    Chinese, Tibetan
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Lime Light Film Contest

    March 21, 2021
    Best Short Film - Documentary Films
  • REDWood Film Festival

    Best Documentary Film
  • The Film Contest

    Best Documentary Film
  • Formosa Festival of International Filmmaker Awards

    Most Influential Award
  • SCANDINAVIAN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
    Helsinki
    Finland
    Best Short Documentary
Director Biography - Jared Yeh

Born in Taipei, Taiwan, Jared Yeh embarked on a career in film after finishing the New York Film Academy filmmaking programme. Since 2008, he has worked as an art director in numerous award-winning Taiwanese films and international co-productions. After a decade of a successful career in Taiwan, Yeh remains passionate about exploring more possibilities in filmmaking. He pursued further studies in film, completing a Cinematography programme at FAMU in Prague in 2022 and earning a Master's degree in Cinematography in Berlin the following year. As a cinematographer and director, Yeh is working on a wide range of projects including short films, documentaries, commercials, and music videos. He is currently based in Europe, shooting a variety of exciting projects across different cities.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

This relatively backward village on the remote high-altitude plateau is like the intersection of past and future, tradition and modern. Most of the people in this film were nomads but lost their yaks, now settle down in the village, living in basic life. While they are used to live with unstable water quality and electricity in the village. Not far away across the river, a small city which the government builds for tourism, there are hotels, shops, restaurants, and supermarkets to buy everything they need. They might be not far away from their tradition yet are losing it gradually now. Perhaps it is to capture the moments they are going toward the modern and losing parts of their tradition for me. For them, it's just living their lives and keeping the good old nomad days in their memories.