Pawo Choyning Dorji

Pawo Choyning Dorji (Dzongkha: དཔའ་བོ་ཆོས་དབྱིངས་རྡོ་རྗི།; born 23 June 1983) Druk Thuksey, recipient of the Heart Son of the Thunder Dragon, is a 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. He is the youngest recipient of Bhutan’s highest civilian award, the Druk Thuksey, the Heart Son of the Thunder Dragon. It was bestowed to him by King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck. He is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

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

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, a devout Buddhist, is a student of renowned Buddhist master and filmmaker Khyentse Norbu 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]

Dorji was invited to become a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, having been invited to join the academy as part of both the Directors and Writers branch. He eventually joined the Academy as part of the Directors branch.[10]

On December 17, 2022, on the 115th National Day of Bhutan, Dorji was awarded the highest civilian award in Bhutan the Royal Order of Bhutan, the Druk Thuksey, the Heart Son of the Thunder Dragon, by King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck. A Royal Order bestowed to recognize distinguished service to the Bhutanese nation and people. Dorji became the youngest recipient in the history of Bhutan and the first Bhutanese film maker to be awarded the Druk Thuksey.[11]

Dorji's second feature film The Monk and the Gun had its world premiere at the 50th Telluride Film Festival.[12] The film had its International Premiere at the 48th Toronto International Film Festival as part of the festival's Centrepiece Programme.[13] Bhutan submitted The Monk and the Gun as Bhutan's official submission for the Best International Feature Film race at the 96th Academy Awards. This is only Bhutan's third overall submission in the history of the Oscars. Dorji's teacher, Khyentse Norbu's directorial debut The Cup was the first Bhutanese submission in 1999. Dorji's own directorial debut Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom was the second. Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom went on to become Bhutan's first Oscar nomination when it was nominated for Best International Feature Film for the 94th Academy Awards. [14]

Personal life

Dorji married Taiwanese actress and producer Fan Yuin "Stephanie" Lai, daughter of playwright Stan Lai, in 2009.[15][16] They have a daughter and a son. The family split their time between Taiwan, Bhutan, and India.[17][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
2023 The Monk and the Gun Yes Yes Yes World Premiere at TFF, International Premiere at TIFF and screening at BIFF

Honours

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. "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 (12 January 2020). "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. Tartaglione, Nancy (8 February 2022). "Oscars: International Feature Nominees' Recognition Continues Beyond Category; Bhutan Debuts & Sorrentino Returns". Deadline. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
  10. "Kajol, Suriya among 397 new members of Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences". Business Today. 29 June 2022.
  11. Dema, Chhimi. "Filmmaker Pawo Choyning Dorji honoured with Druk Thuksey". Kuensel Online. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  12. Hammond, Pete. "The Monk And The Gun' Review/Interview: Bhutan Director Pawo Choyning Dorji's 2nd Film Even Tops The Oscar-Nominated 'Lunana: A Yak In The Classroom' – Telluride Film Festival". Deadline. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  13. Dams, Tim. "Films Boutique boards latest film from Bhutanese director of Oscar nominated 'Lunana: A Yak In The Classroom' (exclusive)". Screen Daily. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  14. Goodfellow, Melanie. "Oscars: Bhutan Submits Toronto Title 'The Monk And The Gun' For Best International Feature". Deadline. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  15. 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.
  16. 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.
  17. 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)
  18. 115th National Day
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