Pawo Choyning Dorji

Pawo Choyning Dorji is a writer, photographer and filmmaker from the Kingdom of Bhutan. Pawo's introduction to film came in 2012 when he worked as Khyentse Norbu's assistant. His feature directorial debut LUNANA : A YAK IN THE CLASSROOM (2019) was nominated for Best International Feature Film at the 94th Academy Awards.

The Monk And The Gun

A film by Pawo Choyning Dorji

2023 - Bhutan/France/USA/Taiwan - Comedy/Drama

Kingdom of Bhutan, 2006. Modernization has finally arrived. Bhutan becomes the last country in the world to connect to the internet and television, and now the biggest change of all: democracy. To teach the people how to vote, the authorities organize a mock election, but the locals seem unconvinced. Travelling to rural Bhutan where religion is more popular than politics, the election supervisor discovers that a monk is planning a mysterious ceremony for the election day.

Lunana: A Yak In The Classroom

A film by Pawo Choyning Dorji

2019 - Bhutan - Drama/Family

Struggling with his profession as a teacher, Ugyen is sent to Lunana in northern Bhutan for his final year of training. The high altitude and the lack of amenities make Ugyen want to leave as soon as he arrives. With a warm welcome the local children try to win him over but they don’t have much time as the harsh winter is about to arrive in the glacial parts of the Himalaya…