Masterclass “The Young Shaman” with Dulmaa Purev-Ochir at Lusófona University

On 4th December, the Fernando Lopes Room at the campus of Universidade Lusófona – Centro Universitário Lisboa hosted a special session that brought together art and reflection. The screening of the film "The Young Shaman", the debut feature film by Mongolian filmmaker and Universidade Lusófona alumna, Dulmaa Purev-Ochir, was followed by a Q&A session with the director, offering participants an enriching and unique experience.

Exclusively for students and lecturers of Universidade Lusófona, the event began at 10:00 with the screening of the film. For 1 hour and 40 minutes, the audience was transported to Mongolia through the story of Ze, a 17-year-old young man torn between his studies, family responsibilities, and the peculiar role of shaman in his community. The film addresses universal themes such as identity, responsibility, and the discovery of new emotions and challenges, prompting reflection on the balance between tradition and modernity.

"The Young Shaman" premiered in cinemas in Portugal on 14th November 2024. Prior to this, the film had already been shown and awarded at several international film festivals, including the Venice International Film Festival Orizzonti 2023, where it won the Orizzonti Award for Best Actor for actor Tergel Bold-Erdene. Additionally, it won the Best Director Award at the Pingyao International Film Festival Crouching Tigers 2023, and the Best Film award at the Osaka Asian International Film Festival 2024.

After the screening, Dulmaa Purev-Ochir answered questions from the audience, sharing insights into the film's creative process, from character development to the casting of young Mongolian actor Tergel Bold-Erdene, who also received recognition at the Venice International Film Festival in the Orizzonti section. The director also discussed the cultural inspirations present in the storyline and how the film engages with contemporary themes.

The masterclass also highlighted the remarkable career of Dulmaa Purev-Ochir, a filmmaker who combines a strong academic background with a sensitive approach to human stories. In addition to teaching Screenwriting at Universidade Lusófona, Dulmaa is also a doctoral student in Media Arts and is preparing new cinematic projects.

Dulmaa Purev-Ochir, born in Mongolia in 1989, has gained international recognition. Her short film "Mountain Cat" was part of the Official Selection at Cannes 2020, and more recently, her short film "Snow in September" won the Golden Lion (Orizzonti) at the Venice Film Festival and was awarded Best Short Film at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Currently, Dulmaa Purev-Ochir is a lecturer in Screenwriting at Universidade Lusófona and a doctoral student in Media and Communication Arts, while finalising a new short film and developing new research for future cinematic projects.

See the Event Photos on the ULusófona Facebook page

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Filipa Cavém