Pawo Choyning Dorji

Pawo Choyning Dorji Dzongkha དཔའབཆསདབངསརར born 23 June 1983 is a Bhutanese filmmaker His feature directorial debut Lunana A Yak in the Classroom was nominated for Best International Feature Film at the 94th Academy Awards in 2022 His second film The Monk and the Gun 2023 premiered at the Telluride and Toronto International Film Festivals and was shortlisted for Best International Feature Film at the 96th Academy Awards His short documentary A Song for the Snow Lion made with cellist YoYo Ma premiered at the Telluride Film Festival Dorji a devout Buddhist is a student of renowned Buddhist master and filmmaker Khyentse Norbu and discovered filmmaking working with him first as directors assistant on Vara A Blessing 2013 then as producer of Hema Hema 2016 On December 17 2022 the 115th National Day of Bhutan Dorji was awarded the countrys highest civilian honor the Druk Thuksey the Heart Son of the Thunder Dragon by King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck becoming its youngestever recipient and the first Bhutanese filmmaker so honored He is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences