Birdsong
Laos | United Kingdom | 2022 | 18min | Documentary | Colour | DigitalCo-Director, Producer
Exploring the whistling traditions of the Hmong people of northern Laos, whose language straddles the boundary between music and speech, this film witnesses a collision of ancient tradition with modern urban life. With urbanisation and the advent of modern technology rapidly replacing this culture, Hmong whistling is dying out. Following the stories of three individuals from Long Lan village, they reflect on their experience as practitioners of a vanishing musical language.
Commissioned by Audible UK and Aesthetica Short Film Festival for The Listening Pitch 2022. Acquired by Guardian Documentaries.
Watch on Vimeo, Youtube, or Short of the Week
DirectorsOmi Zola Gupta
Sparsh Ahuja
Producers Sparsh Ahuja
Omi Zola Gupta
Dorn Bouttasing
Director of PhotographyJanamejaya Daroz
Co-ProducerLao New Wave Cinema
EditorGiorgia Zarantonello
Sound DesignCarlos San Juan Juanchi
Official Selection
SXSW Film Festival (International Premiere)Sundance Film Festival: London
Palm Springs ShortFest
San Francisco International Film Festival
LA Asian Pacific Film Festival
Dharamshala International Film Festival
Aesthetica Short Film Festival
Indie Meme Film Festival
Ethnocineca Documentary Film Festival
LA Asian Pacific Film Festival
Flatpack Film Festival
Heart of Gold International Film Festival
London Indian Film Festival
San Diego Asian Film Festival
Academy of Death Racers Film Festival
Norient Festival
SEEYOUSOUND International Music Film Festival
Awards
Vimeo Staff PickShort of the Week
IDA, Best Documentary Shorts Shortlist
BIFA, Best British Shorts Longlist
Grierson Documentary Awards, Best Short Documentary Longlist
Palm Springs ShortFest, Special Mention: Best Documentary Short 2023
LA Asian Pacific Film Festival, Special Jury Recognition 2023
Flatpack Festival, Optical Sound Competition Winner 2023
Aesthetica Short Film Festival, Listening Pitch Grantee 2022
Press
Hollywood ReporterIDA Documentary Awards Unveils 2023 Shortlists for Best Features, Shorts
British Independent Film Awards
BIFA 2023 Longlists | Best British Short Film
Televisual News | Grierson Awards Shortlist
Grierson Awards Shortlist Announced
Short of the Week
Birdsong - a short film by Omi Zola Gupta & Sparsh Ahuja
Adobe Blog
Meet the talented 2023 Sundance x Adobe fellows
Variety
Sundance Institute Announces Ignite and Adobe Fellows (EXCLUSIVE)
Sundance Institute
2023 Sundance Ignite x Adobe Fellows Announced
Open Culture
Hear the Dying Whistled Language of Laos, Featured in a New Short Film, "Birdsong" | Open Culture
Aeon Magazine
Messages born of melody – hear the whistled language of the Hmong people | Aeon Videos
Guardian UK
Birdsong: the dying whistled language of the Hmong people in northern Laos