Pawo Choyning Dorji

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Pawo Choyning Dorji
དཔའ་བོ་ཆོས་དབྱིངས་རྡོ་རྗི།
Born (1983-06-23) 23 June 1983 (age 39)
Darjeeling, India
Alma materLawrence University
OccupationFilmmaker, photographer
Spouse
Stephanie Lai
​
(m. 2009)​
Children2
RelativesStan Lai (father-in-law)

Pawo Choyning Dorji (Dzongkha: དཔའ་བོ་ཆོས་དབྱིངས་རྡོ་རྗི།; born 23 June 1983) is an Indian-born Bhutanese filmmaker and photographer. His feature directorial debut Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom (2019) was nominated for Best International Feature Film at the 94th Academy Awards.

Early life and education[]

The son of a diplomat, Dorji was born in Darjeeling, India.[1] He attended Kodaikanal International School during the time he lived in India and Yangchenphug Higher Secondary School back in Bhutan. He graduated with a degree in government and international relations from Lawrence University in the United States in 2006. He then completed a qualification in Buddhist philosophy at the Sarah Buddhist Institute in 2009.[2]

Career[]

As a photographer, Dorji has contributed to publications such as VICE, Esquire, and Life. He has authored a number of photography essay books.[3] His third book Light of the Moon was shot over the course of five years.[2]

Dorji met Buddhist master and filmmaker Khyentse Norbu in 2006 and discovered filmmaking through working with him, first as director's assistant on Vara: A Blessing (2013) and then as producer of Hema Hema (2016).[4]

Dorji filmed his feature directorial debut over the course of two months at a remote school in the Himalayan village of Lunana. Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom had its world premiere at the 63rd BFI London Film Festival.[5] The film won Audience Choice and Best of the Fest award at the 2020 Palm Springs International Film Festival.[6] It was initially intended to be Bhutan's second submission for Best International Feature at the 93rd Academy Awards,[7] but due to an error was resubmitted the following year, becoming Bhutan's first Oscar nomination.[8] Dorji responded saying "The most magical part of this is it was so unexpected... I hope it inspires Bhutanese and Himalayan filmmakers."[9]

Personal life[]

Dorji married Taiwanese actress and producer Fanyun "Stephanie" Lai, daughter of playwright Stan Lai, in 2009.[10][11] They have a daughter and a son. The family split their time between Taiwan, Bhutan, and India.[12][9]

Bibliography[]

  • Seeing Sacred: Lights & Shadows Along the Path
  • Turquoise Heart: Bhutanese remembers a Bhutanese (2017)
  • The Light of the Moon: The Legacy of Xuanzang of Tang (2019)

Filmography[]

Year Title Director Writer Producer Other Notes
2013 Vara: A Blessing Assistant Stills photographer
2016 Hema Hema Yes
2019 Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom Yes Yes Yes Feature directorial debut
Nominated — Academy Award for Best International Feature Film

References[]

  1. ^ Ghosh, Tanushree (20 February 2022). "When, in India, Bhutan's first Oscar-nominated director decided to become a storyteller". The Indian Express. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b "Curriculum Vitae. Pawo Choyning Dorji" (PDF). Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  3. ^ "Pawo Choyning Dorji". Siyahi. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  4. ^ "Seeing the Sacred: an Interview with Pawo Choyning Dorji, Producer of Hema Hema: Sing Me A Song While I Wait". Buddhist Door Global. Archived from the original on 9 January 2018. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  5. ^ Heskins, Andrew. "Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom". Eastern Kicks. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  6. ^ Yee, Lawrence. "Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom wins Audience Choice Award". The Wrap. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
  7. ^ Keslassy, Elsa (15 September 2020). "Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom Is Bhutan's Second-Ever Oscar Entry (Exclusive)". Variety. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
  8. ^ Keslassy, Elsa (27 January 2022). "Pawo Choyning Dorji, Director of 'Lunana: A Yak in The Classroom,' on Breaking Boundaries for Bhutan Through The Oscars". Variety. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  9. ^ Jump up to: a b Tartaglione, Nancy (8 February 2022). "Oscars: International Feature Nominees' Recognition Continues Beyond Category; Bhutan Debuts & Sorrentino Returns". Deadline. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  10. ^ Rosati, Adriana (18 October 2019). "Interview with Pawo Choyning Dorji, Kelden Lhamo Gurung, Sherab Dorji and Ugyen Norbu Lhendup". Asian Movie Pulse. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  11. ^ Liu, Lyla (9 February 2022). "Film directed by Taiwan playwright's son-in-law shortlisted at 94th Academy Awards". Taiwan News. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  12. ^ Wong, Silvia (26 January 2022). "The long road to success for 'Lunana: A Yak In The Classroom': "Bhutan was not an option on the Academy list"". Screen Daily. Retrieved 12 February 2022.(subscription required)

External links[]

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