After making its world premiere at Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (PÖFF) 2024, Dechen Roder’s I, The Song has been selected as Bhutan’s official submission for the International Feature Film category at the 98th Academy Awards.

The film swept Bhutan’s National Film Awards earlier this year, taking home nearly every major honor, including Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay, and acting awards.

In I, The Song, a schoolteacher travels to southern Bhutan in search of her doppelgänger in a desperate attempt to save her job and reputation. As she becomes entangled in her double’s life, she finds herself investigating a disappearance while also drawn into the mystery of a stolen sacred song.

From Tallinn to the Oscars

The film’s international journey began at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival (PÖFF) 2024, where it had its world premiere in the Critics’ Picks section—the first Bhutanese film ever to do so. At Tallinn, Roder was awarded Best Director by the festival’s international jury.

“This extraordinary film is a breath of fresh air in Asian cinema—bold, vibrant, and deeply moving. It brings a rare emotional honesty and artistic courage that left a lasting impression on all of us. I sincerely hope it gains the recognition it deserves from members of the American Academy,” said Miroslav Mogorovic, Jury President of the Critics’ Picks section at Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival.

The Critics’ Picks curator Nikolaj Nikitin added:
“From the very first moment, when I saw this brilliant, complex, and super beautiful film with an amazing and twisted storyline, carried out by outstanding actors, I knew this would be a festival darling. Hosting the world premiere was an outstanding, colorful, and breathtaking experience.”

Audiences in Tallinn embraced the film, engaging in lively discussions during screenings and Q&As with Roder, lead actress Tandin Bidha (the biggest star of Bhutanese cinema), and cinematographer Rangoli Agarwal.

Following Tallinn, the film had its Asian premiere at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa, continuing its festival journey before securing Bhutan’s Oscar submission.

This year Dechen Roder will return to Tallinn as a member of the Critics’ Picks jury at Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival.