Randhir Shrestha

Ganesh Dev Pandey is a Nepali film director, writer, and screenwriter known for his socially rooted storytelling and his contribution to modern independent Nepali cinema. He made his directorial debut with Malati Ko Bhatti (2012), followed by the romantic drama Manjari (2013), both of which helped establish his reputation as a filmmaker with a distinct narrative voice.He gained wider recognition with Gaja Baja (2018), Nepal’s first stoner‑comedy, which sparked national debate after the Film Development Board initially refused registration due to its title. Pandey challenged the decision in the Supreme Court and won after a two‑year legal battle, marking a landmark moment for freedom of expression in Nepali cinema.His later works include Julebi (2023), a multi‑narrative urban romance praised for its authentic portrayal of modern relationships. He has also written and produced Chini Kam Rang Kada (2020), further showcasing his versatility.

Zaun Yonzan is a Nepali filmmaker best known as the director of Crawling Crows: Aankha, Nepal’s first film to win Best Film at the 62nd Asia Pacific Film Festival in 2025. His work blends bold visual language with socially rooted storytelling, positioning him among the new-generation directors bringing Nepali cinema to global attention.

Prem Bahadur Basnet is a Nepali film director known for his contribution to the early development of Nepali cinema and for directing the culturally important film Kumari.After completing his B.Ed., Basnet received scholarships to study abroad, including one from a university in Hawaii, USA, and another to study scriptwriting at the Film and Television Institute of India in Pune, India. While many students at the time were going to the United States for higher education, Basnet chose to pursue film studies in Pune because of his strong interest in cinema.He studied there for two years, going to Pune in 1962 and returning to Nepal in 1964. After returning, he worked at Nepal’s Information Department, where he became involved in cultural and media-related activities.Having studied filmmaking, Basnet was more interested in creating original and artistic films rather than purely commercial cinema. During this period, when Nepal was invited to represent the country in international film festivals, he decided to make a film based on the living goddess Kumari tradition of the Newar community in Kathmandu.This idea eventually led to the creation of Kumari, which became an important cultural film portraying Nepal’s traditions and social life. Through his work, Prem Bahadur Basnet helped introduce culturally rooted and artistic storytelling to Nepali cinema.

Santosh Sen is a leading Nepali film producer and director recognized for elevating mainstream Nepali cinema through high‑budget productions and strong visual storytelling. He rose to prominence with the blockbuster Prem Geet series and later expanded into direction with Prem Geet 3 and the large‑scale national drama Balidan. His work blends Nepali cultural identity with modern cinematic techniques, and his banner Aasusen Films has become synonymous with ambitious, globally‑positioned Nepali filmmaking.