Manakamana

118 min. co-directed with Stephanie Spray

Manakamana is a documentary set entirely within the capsule of a cable car. High above a jungle in Nepal, pilgrims make an ancient journey by cable car to worship the goddess Manakamana.

The film was produced through the Harvard Film Study Center and the Sensory Ethnography Lab. It won the Cineastes of the Present award at the Locarno Film Festival in 2013.

“May be the best documentary ever made on the basis of a dubious premise.” 
– New Yorker

Manakamana Documentary Film by Pacho Velez

Festivals & Awards 

Locarno Film Festival (Double prize winner)

Toronto Film Festival

New York Film Festival

Vancouver Film Festival

Buenos Aires Film Festival 

Edinburgh International Film Festival

Doc Aviv (Best Artistic Vision Award)

London Critics Circle Film Awards (nominee)

Sarasota Film Festival

RiverRun International Film Festival (Jury Prize)