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March 4, 2025 18 mins

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Oscar-nominated director behind Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom and The Monk and the Gun. In this episode of the Asian Diaspora Project Podcast, we explore his journey from a multicultural upbringing to becoming a pioneering filmmaker, Bhutan’s self-imposed isolation and transition to modernity, and the deeper themes in his films.

Pawo shares insights on storytelling as a form of liberation, Bhutanese culture’s place in an evolving world, and the challenges of making films in a country with little film infrastructure. He also reflects on his transition from studying political science in Wisconsin to becoming a filmmaker, and why he believes failure is essential to success in the arts.

#BhutaneseCinema #PawoChoyningDorji #AsianDiasporaProject #OscarNominee #Filmmaking #Bhutan #TheMonkAndTheGun

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