“Sumpa Kingdom,” a drama set in Xizang selected for the Belt and Road Film Week sidebar at the Shanghai International Film Festival, held a post-screening event, with director Lhapal Gyal, producer Sonam Gyal and cast members Tenzin Tsundue, Joy and Sonam Wangmo in attendance.

Adapted from the novel of the same name by writer Miaolian, the film spans two time periods. Its first strand, set in 1995, follows a rural doctor in Nagqu who takes in an orphaned Tibetan baby girl. In 2024, now grown and with her adoptive father’s approval, the young woman sets off with a wealthy merchant to piece together the historical enigmas surrounding the ancient Sumpa kingdom. Lhapal Gyal said the team retained the spiritual core of the source material while reworking character relationships and the narrative structure, drawing on their own direct encounters with the landscapes, customs and culture of Xizang.

On casting Tenzin Tsundue in the role of Baima, the guide, Lhapal Gyal said the actor’s natural presence immediately signaled the right fit. “We reached plenty of consensus the first time we discussed the role in Chengdu. I knew he was fully capable of playing the part, and an audition was unnecessary,” Lhapal Gyal said. On the film’s romantic dimension, the director was equally deliberate. “We did not intend for them to have an intense romantic entanglement. Understated, pure affection fits their characterizations far better,” he said.

The film marks Tenzin Tsundue’s feature debut. He drew on his own background – he formerly worked as a tour guide – while remaining conscious of the distinction between himself and the role. “Even though I am Tibetan, I am portraying a different Tibetan individual. The character’s personality is half me, half Baima,” Tenzin Tsundue said.

Actress Joy said she feels deeply honored to convey her love for her hometown through the film, while co-star Sonam Wangmo offered a candid reflection on the shoot. “Though my screen time is limited, filming at the foot of Sapu Sacred Mountain was an incredibly romantic experience,” Sonam Wangmo said.

The 28th Shanghai International Film Festival runs through June 21.