Developing a Bhutanese film sector in the intersection between gross national happiness and Danish guidance

This chapter reviews recent development of a local film industry in Bhutan. Gross National Happiness (GNH) framework is an all-encompassing development strategy, one that at once provides the initial conditions for the creation of a local audiovisual industry and then shapes the approach taken by different agents working toward the development of the national film sector in Bhutan. Three stakeholders are involved in putting filmmaking on the political agenda, namely the King of Bhutan and the Bhutan Film Association (BFA), and relevant governmental agencies, including the Department of Information and Media, and the Gross National Happiness Commission. The aim of the partnership of Bhutanese-Danish Film Sector is, according to the wishes of the Bhutanese stakeholders, to use the Danish film industry as a point of reference and source of inspiration in the initial attempt to create a coordinated response to the developmental challenges facing the emerging local film culture.