“The Monk and the Gun” is Bhutan’s candidate for the 2024 Academy Awards for Best International Feature Film. It was written, produced and directed by Pawo Choyning Dorji (དཔའ་བོ་ཆོས་དབྱིངས་རྡོ་རྗི།), 40.
Pawo Choyning Dorji
Born in Darjeeling, India, Dorji is a devout Buddhist and the son of a diplomat.
Dorji attended Kodaikanal International School in Kodaikanal, Dindigul, Tamil Nadu, India and Yangchenphug Higher Secondary School in Thimphu, Bhutan. In 2006, he graduated from Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin, United States.
In 2009, Dorji completed a qualification in Buddhist philosophy at the Sarah Buddhist Institute in McLeod Ganj, Dharamshala, India. In the same year, he married Taiwanese actress Fan Yuin “Stephanie” Lai.
Released on October 5, 2019 in London, England, United Kingdom, “Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom” marked Dorji’s feature directorial debut. It became the first Bhutanese film to be nominated for Best International Feature Film at the 2022 Academy Awards.
On December 17, 2022, Dorji became the youngest recipient of the Druk Thuksey, the highest civilian award in Bhutan.
“The Monk and the Gun“
On September 1, 2023, “The Monk and the Gun” had its world premiere at the 2023 Telluride Film Festival in Telluride, Colorado, USA. In October 2023, Roadside Attractions acquired North American distribution rights to the film.
“Pawo Dorji’s brilliant comedy is the movie we all need right now,” Roadside Attractions co-presidents Howard Cohen and Eric d’Arbeloff said in a statement obtained by Deadline. “We fell in love with the people of Bhutan through this charming film and American audiences will, as well.”
The film is a co-production between Bhutan, France, Taiwan and the U.S. It is set in 2006 when government officials in Bhutan organize a mock election as a training exercise as the kingdom is looking to become a democracy.
In the film, Kelsang Choejey plays an old lama in Ura, Ura Gewog, Bumthang District, Bhutan while Tandin Wangchuk plays a monk named Tashi. To face the imminent change in the kingdom, the lama orders the monk to bring him two guns before the full moon.
Hailing from New York City, New York, USA, Harry Einhorn plays an American antique weapons collector named Ronald “Ron” Colman. The character lands in Bhutan in search of a valuable rifle that falls into Tashi’s hands.
Also in the cast are Choeying Jatsho as Choephel, Deki Lhamo as Tshomo, Pema Zangmo Sherpa as Tshering Yangden, Tandin Phubz as Phurba and Tandin Sonam as Benji.
2024 Academy Awards
Hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, 56, the 2024 Academy Awards will be aired by ABC from the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA on March 10, 2024. Directed by Hamish Hamilton, the ceremony will be produced by Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan.
This is the 96th edition of the awards ceremony also known as the Oscars. The ceremony is annually presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which is based in Beverly Hills, California.
On December 21, 2023, it was announced that “The Monk and the Gun” is one of the 15 shortlisted films for the 2024 Academy Awards for Best International Feature Film. On January 23, 2024, the official nominees will be revealed.
CONAN Daily 