Cherub of the Mist is a documentary film

Documentary film

Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...

 based on the life of two Red panda

Red Panda

The red panda , is a small arboreal mammal native to the eastern Himalayas and southwestern China. It is the only species of the genus Ailurus. Slightly larger than a domestic cat, it has reddish-brown fur, a long, shaggy tail, and a waddling gait due to its shorter front legs...

s, namely, Mini and Sweety, who were released into the Singalila National Park

Singalila National Park

Singalila National Park is a national park of India located on the Singalila Ridge at an altitude of more than 7000 feet above sea level, in the Darjeeling district of West Bengal. It is well known for the trekking route to Sandakphu that runs through it....

 in the Darjeeling District

Darjeeling district

Darjeeling District is the northernmost district of the state of West Bengal in eastern India in the foothills of the Himalayas. The district is famous for its beautiful hill stations and Darjeeling tea. Darjeeling is the district headquarters...

, India

India

India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...

.

The documentary was filmed by Naresh Bedi and Rajesh Bedi during a period of about 14 months. It was the first time that someone had filmed the rare red panda

Red Panda

The red panda , is a small arboreal mammal native to the eastern Himalayas and southwestern China. It is the only species of the genus Ailurus. Slightly larger than a domestic cat, it has reddish-brown fur, a long, shaggy tail, and a waddling gait due to its shorter front legs...

s in their natural habitat. Red Pandas are found in Nepal

Nepal

Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...

, through North-eastern India and Bhutan

Bhutan

Bhutan , officially the Kingdom of Bhutan, is a landlocked state in South Asia, located at the eastern end of the Himalayas and bordered to the south, east and west by the Republic of India and to the north by the People's Republic of China...

, and into China

China

Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...

 and are listed in the Red Data Book

IUCN Red List

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species , founded in 1963, is the world's most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of biological species. The International Union for Conservation of Nature is the world's main authority on the conservation status of species...

. Their population is estimated to be around 2,500.

The film shows the courtship, mating, nest building, and rearing of cubs of these little creatures.

General information

• Format: One-off / one hour
• Location: India
• Running Time: 50 minutes
• Director: Naresh Bedi
• Executive Producer: Naresh & Rajesh Bedi
• Cinematographer: Vijay Bedi, Ajay Bedi & Naresh Bedi
• Editing: Ajay Bedi & Vijay Bedi
• Production Company: Bedi Films

Ajay Bedi & Vijay Bedi are also the only Indian to have won nomination at individual craft category for editing for television highest awards “Emmy® Academy of Television Art & Science Award”, for this film on highly endangered Red Panda.

15

Awards

• 29th IWFF Awards, Montana, US, 2006

Best Conservation & Environmental
Merit Award for Animal Behaviour

• Wildscreen, UK,2006

Wildscreens Award to Promote Filmmakers from Developing Countries

• 31st Banff Mountain Film Festival, Banff, Canada 2006

Best Film on Mountain Environment
Audio Post Production Scholarship

• 17th International Wildlife Film Festival, Albert, France 2007

Award for the protection of the Animal Species
Audience Award
Special Award of Young Audience

• Wildlife Asia Film Festival, Singapore 2007.

‘The Loris Award” And
‘Best Asian Wildlife Film
Nomination in craft category of Sound Recording

• Wildtalk Africa Wildlife Film Festival, Durban, South Africa 2007.

Roscar Award for Best Limited Budget Film Award

• Nomination at Japan Wildlife Film Festival, Tokyo, Japan 2007

• Revelation Award at Vatavaran Wildlife Documentary Film Festival, New Delhi, India 2007.

• 28th Annual News and Documentary EMMY awards, New York, USA, 2007.

Nomination for Craft Category of Editing- Ajay Bedi & Vijay Bedi