# No Winter Holidays

No Winter Holidays: ढोरपाटन is a 2023 Nepalese documentary feature directed by Rajan Kathet and Sunir Pandey. The film is a co-production between Nepal, South Korea and Romania, and completed with the financial support from DMZ Docs Industry and HKIFF (HAF-WIP) Industry. The film had its premiere at the Sheffield DocFest 2023, DMZ Docs 2023, Dharamshala International Film Festival 2023, Taiwan International Documentary Festival 2024, Mumbai International Film Festival 2024, Golden Apricot Yerevan International Film Festival 2024, along with over two dozen other festivals.

## Synopsis

Two lifelong rivals Ratima and Kalima have been appointed caretakers of their empty village. Now in the twilight of their lives, they must forget their past and help each other survive a long and harsh winter.

## Production

The film's development commenced in 2018 with research and preparation. The project was first pitched to the industry at Docedge Kolkata 2019 and later participated in several notable industry events, including the DMZ Docs Industry Pitch, the HKIFF WIP Pitch, and the Whickers TV & Documentary Pitch. The team traveled to Dhorpatan on three occasions, filming in the summer, autumn, and winter. By the second week of March 2020, the team had successfully completed a 75-day shoot.

## Release

The film had its World Premiere at the Sheffield DocFest, United Kingdom on 17 and 18 June 2023. It was also screened at the Yerevan International Film Festival, Armenia on 11 and 12 July 2024. The Asian Premiere of the film was held at DMZ International Documentary Film Festival 2023, South Korea. It was screened on 7 February 2025 at the 2nd Eikhoigi Imphal International Film Festival in the International Competition: Non-Fiction strand.

## Reception

Priyanka Dasgupta of Times of India wrote, "From being just a tale of jealousy between co-wives, this profound film was lauded for its intimate portrayal of kinship amidst loneliness, old age and female bonding." Monika Thapa of The Spotlight opined, "No Winter Holidays is indeed a chilling experience, even in the summer. And as of winter, the howling wind, music and heavy snowfalls will defy any warm blankets could provide. Yet, the story feels unsettling with long silence, and the characters grip the mind and eyes of the audience." Santanu Das of Hindustan Times reviewed, "No Winter Holidays is somehow stuck in locating its own subjects - this is a film which is interested only in acknowledging the stubbornness of a lifestyle, unable to brush off that blanket of shielded psychological spark that could have ignited this documentary with much needed warmth and immediacy."
Prasun Sangroula of Online Khabar commented, "No Winter Holidays captures the diverse aspects of the characters, offering a poignant portrayal of their lives amid the challenges of extreme cold and hardship. The filmmakers deserve praise for their efforts, bravely navigating a challenging location to provide insight into the characters’ past and present."

## Accolades

| Festival | Award | Result |
| Alternativa Film Awards 2023 | NATIVA Award | Won |
| Mumbai International Film Festival 2024 | Best Cinematography (Winner: Babin Dulal) | Won |
| 11th Nepal Human Rights International Film Festival 2023 | Best Feature Film | Won |
| Lima Alterna International Film Festival 2023 | Honorable Mention | Won |
| Nepal America International Film Festival 2024 | Best Feature Documentary | Won |
| DokuBaku International Documentary Film Festival 2024 | Special Mention | Won |
| OKO International Ethnographic Film Festival 2024 | Jury Grand Prize | Nominated |
| Sheffield DocFest 2023 | Grand Jury Award | Nominated |
| DMZ International Documentary Film Festival 2023 | White Goose Award | Nominated |
| 22nd Golden Apricot Yerevan International Film Festival 2024 | Golden Apricot Award | Nominated |
| Taiwan International Documentary Festival 2024 | Grand Prize (Asian Vision Competition) | Nominated |