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Pawo Choyning Dorji ’06 spoke via Zoom from Los Angeles shortly after learning his latest film was not nominated for the 2024 Academy Awards. Despite this, he remained positive. "The journey I’ve had so far, I think that itself is the greatest success one can aspire for," Dorji said.

His film, *The Monk and the Gun*, followed his debut *Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom*, which received widespread acclaim and earned him a 2022 Oscar nomination. Released in early 2024 in the United States, *The Monk and the Gun* was shortlisted for the Oscars in the International Feature Film category but did not receive a nomination.

"For me, shortlisted or nominated or anything else, this has been such a magical experience," Dorji stated. The Bhutanese filmmaker's journey includes four years studying government at Lawrence University, two years studying Buddhism in an Indian monastery, nearly a decade as a traveling photographer, and eventually returning to Bhutan to tell stories through film.

Dorji returned to Lawrence University in mid-June to speak at Commencement and receive an honorary doctorate. His undergraduate experience at Lawrence significantly influenced his creative decisions. "With the education I had at Lawrence... it really opened my mind," he said.

Dorji’s fascination with history and global politics played into making *The Monk and the Gun*, which parodies U.S. politics while exploring Bhutan's experiment with democracy. "I went to the Midwest, and I studied at Lawrence... It really opened my mind up for everything," he explained.

*Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom* began gaining attention when it was accepted at the BFI London Film Festival in 2020. Filmed on a modest budget of less than $300,000 in Bhutan’s remote Lunana Valley, it eventually garnered multiple awards and was shortlisted for an Oscar in December 2021.

Despite new opportunities following his Oscar nomination, Dorji remained grounded by advice from Ang Lee to retain his innocence as a filmmaker. He adhered to this guidance while making *The Monk and the Gun*, choosing amateur actors over Hollywood stars to preserve authenticity.

Set in 2006, *The Monk and the Gun* depicts Bhutan’s transition to democracy through humorous storytelling involving a mock election and cultural clashes with modernity. The film received favorable reviews upon its U.S. release and won several international awards before being shortlisted by the Academy.

Dorji attributes much of his storytelling passion to his cultural background in Bhutan where oral traditions are vital. His journey through photography led him back to filmmaking as a powerful medium for storytelling.

In Bhutan, where there is no formal film industry or cinemas, Dorji’s achievements have been groundbreaking. His films offer inspiration within Bhutan while competing on international platforms like Hollywood.

Reflecting on his journey from filming with solar batteries in remote villages to standing among Oscar nominees twice, Dorji expressed gratitude: "It gave Bhutan... something to aspire to."

As he transitions from Taiwan to Los Angeles with his family this summer, Dorji aims to challenge himself further as a filmmaker while maintaining heartfelt storytelling rooted in his multicultural upbringing.

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