Anil Budha Magar

Santosh Panta is a renowned Nepali comedian, actor, director, and songwriter. He is best known for his iconic sitcom Hijo Aaja Ka Kura, which aired on Nepal Television and addressed contemporary social issues. The show ran for an impressive 13 years with 699 episodes and later returned for 117 episodes on Kantipur Television. It also served as a platform for many Nepali comedians, including Deepak Raj Giri and Deepa Shree Niraula. Santosh Panta began his acting journey at the age of 7 and has appeared in around 30 movies, including Badalido Aakash and Chauka Dau. The first film he made was ‘April Fool’. He has acted in more than 2,000 series. He has also directed and acted in various Gaijatra comedy performances, theater productions, and television series. Additionally, he was a judge on the reality show Comedy Champion.

Gyanendra Bahadur Deuja is one of Nepal’s most influential film directors, screenwriters, and visual innovators, celebrated for introducing new cinematic techniques and for directing some of the most culturally significant films in Nepali cinema. Active since 1997, he is known for blending social issues, emotional storytelling, and technical experimentation in his films.Before entering cinema, Deuja served as a Deputy Director at Nepal Rastra Bank, balancing a parallel career in banking and filmmaking—an uncommon achievement in the industry. His artistic foundation began at Aarohan Theatre (now Gurukul), where he trained alongside respected Nepali actors and directors.His mentor, senior director Resh Raj Acharya, guided him through early work as chief assistant director in major tele-serials and films such as Sparsh, Dushman, Aama, Bandhan, and Tuhuro.

Dipendra Lama is a renowned Nepali film director, writer, and former film journalist who transitioned into filmmaking after an 18‑year career in film journalism. He is widely recognized for directing successful films such as Ghampani (2017), Gopi (2019), Chha Maya Chhapakkai (2019), Dui Numberi (2022), and Nango Gaun (2023). His upcoming film Dukhi Aatma (2025) continues his trajectory as one of Nepal’s most consistent storytellers.Born into a Buddhist Tamang family, Lama began his professional journey in 2000 as a film journalist at Naya Sadak Daily, later contributing to major publications including Nepal Samacharpatra, Spacetime, Naya Patrika, Nepal Weekly Magazine, and Nagarik. His journalistic excellence earned him the Fine Art Journalism Award (2016) from the Nepal Academy of Fine Arts.His directorial debut, Ghampani (2017), marked his shift from journalism to cinema, driven by his deep understanding of storytelling and social issues. The film addressed caste discrimination and received strong critical reception.

Samten Bhutia is a Nepali filmmaker, screenwriter, and theatre‑trained storyteller known for his visually grounded, character‑driven approach to cinema. Emerging from the eastern Himalayan creative community, he has directed and written several Nepali and regional films, often blending realism with emotional, socially rooted narratives. Bhutia’s work reflects a strong command of performance direction and atmospheric visual tone, making him a distinctive voice among contemporary Nepali directors.