Team

Bimal Subedi is a pioneering theatre and film director, writer, academician, and actor whose work has profoundly shaped contemporary Nepali performance art. Known for his postmodern, visually striking, and psychologically layered storytelling, he integrates dramaturgy with cultural and philosophical inquiry to create powerful, socially resonant productions. As the founder and artistic director of Theatre Village Nepal, he has played a pivotal role in advancing experimental and critical theatre in South Asia.

Educated at the National School of Drama (India), with further training in filmmaking at the Satyajit Ray Film & Television Institute, and a fellowship in art management in Germany, Subedi brings academic rigor and a global perspective to his multidisciplinary practice. He has directed and designed over twenty acclaimed productions in more than 20 countries, including The Departed Dawn, Yerma, Charumati, Miniature Moments of Life, The Princess of Garden, and Hamlet, many of which have been featured at major international festivals and venues. Most recently, he wrote and directed the Off-Broadway dark comedy musical Hitlor is Coming in the USA, a bold and satirical exploration of identity and power that earned critical attention. Subedi also holds key roles in global cinema, most notably as executive producer, production designer, and actor in the Hollywood feature The World’s Happiest Man, starring the legendary Bruce Dern. His contributions to film extend to writing and directing works like Dying Candle and the upcoming The Snow is Singing, further establishing him as a versatile and influential voice in visual storytelling.

With collaborations spanning over twenty countries, including the UK, Germany, China, and Pakistan, Subedi’s work reflects a deep commitment to cross-cultural exchange and artistic innovation. He has lectured and taught at leading institutions across Nepal, India, Switzerland, and the United States. Recipient of prestigious honors including the OTG International Theatre Award, three META Awards, the Most Creative Award (Thailand), and the International Heritage Award (Malaysia), Bimal Subedi remains a transformative figure in global theatre and film. His legacy continues to inspire a new generation of artists, bridging continents through art, intellect, and bold creative vision. For more information, search Google for "Bimal Subedi" or "Theatre Village Nepal."

Joes Pandey is a prominent figure in Nepali cinema, active since 2010 as both an actor, director and producer. He made his directorial debut with the acclaimed urban drama Saanghuro (2013), which explores the socio-psychological struggles of slum life. As an actor, he has appeared in films such as Hey Yuwa (2010), Junge (2014), Bulbul (2019), and Bhuthan – The World’s Happiest Man (2025). With a focus on culturally rich and socially immersive storytelling, Pandey continues to shape modern Nepali film both behind and in front of the camera.

Filmmaker | Photographer | Former Journalist

Growing up in a Nepalese village without electricity, Samundra Raj Ghimire had no access to visual media. During the country's 10-year civil war, a time of frozen development, state-owned radio was his only connection to a world of dreams. At age 13, he earned his first wage helping build a village road for less than $3. In Kathmandu, he endured child labor, working 12- to 15-hour days in restaurants before becoming a journalist for outlets like Setopati.com, Radio Sagarmatha, and Zest Media.

Moving to the US allowed him to formally study cinema, a lifelong aspiration. He trained at American University in Washington D.C., Frederick Community College, and the prestigious film school FAMU in the Czech Republic. His talents have been recognized with numerous honors, including graduating cum laude, a Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship, a 2024 scholarship from The Washington Media Scholars Foundation, and a 2025 Gotham EDU Fellowship.

Photography is Samundra's visual foundation. His street photography uses slow shutter speeds to create a surreal aesthetic blending tradition with modernity, and he has experience shooting on 16mm film. This craft informs his filmmaking, where he served as associate art director on The World’s Happiest Man (2025), collaborating with actor Bruce Dern. As a producer, he has made several short films, and his debut feature, The Snow is Singing, is currently in post-production.

Samundra’s artistic approach is shaped by his journey. He seeks to weave avant-garde techniques into narrative films that blur the line between fiction and documentary. His work explores themes of identity, migration, and cultural memory, often with elements of poetry and magical realism. As a collaborator, his approach is minimalistic and problem-solving, valuing lived experience as much as any formal credit.

Aakash Khatiwada is a social worker and human rights advocate, with a long-standing focus on the Bhutanese refugee community. The Snow is Singing marks his debut as both Executive Producer and lead actor in a feature film. Although he has no formal acting background, his raw and natural performance draws deeply from his own lived experience.

At the age of 15, Aakash and his family were forced to leave Bhutan and lived as refugees in Nepal for over a decade. During his time in the refugee camp, he became an active voice for his community—championing refugee rights and engaging in creative expression through drama, writing, and music. His lifelong commitment to justice and storytelling continues to shape his work, both in activism and in film.

Ayusha Sanjel Chhetri is a filmmaker based in Queens, NY, originally from Nepal. She holds an MFA in Documentary Filmmaking and a BA in Theatre and Speech from The City College of New York. Ayusha enjoys working on projects that explore identity, culture, and social issues. One of her recent works, Chhaupadi: The Impure Girl, is a short documentary that sheds light on a tradition affecting women in rural Nepal. Whether directing or supporting a team as an AD, she values collaboration, care, and meaningful storytelling.

Chin‑En Gau is a Taiwan-born writer, director, cinematographer, and educator based in New York City. He earned his bachelor’s degree in filmmaking from Taipei National University of the Arts and his MFA from Stony Brook University, where he now teaches filmmaking and visual storytelling.

With extensive experience as both a film director and Director of Photography, his directorial work has been showcased in over a dozen international and domestic film festivals. As a DP, he has collaborated with directors whose films have screened at major festivals, including the Berlin International Film Festival and the Busan International Film Festival.

Known for his intimate and visually evocative style, Gau’s work often explores themes of memory, cultural identity, and self-discovery. He also serves as the in-house cinematographer for projects like those at Happy Home Studios, crafting deeply personal films that resonate across cultures while mentoring the next generation of filmmakers.

As a shy teenager from a mountain village in Nepal, Om Raj Raut dreamt of being a hero like the ones he saw in movies. He did not have the means to protect his village during the civil war, but he discovered his own brand of heroism on the theatre stage while working on his first play, A NIGHT WITH MAO. He pursued his developing passion for acting to the US, earning an International Dean's Scholarship for Drama and a BA in Theatre from CCNY.

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His solo show, 1953: RACE FOR THE SUMMIT earned nominations for Best Actor at the New York Theater Festival, Best Dramatic Playwright at the Frigid New York Theatre Festival, and enjoyed a sold-out run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. New York credits include Off-Off Broadway's PIRATE CHRISTMAS CAROL, Alfa NYC's TEN WAYS TO SURVIVE LIFE IN QUARANTINE, and productions of OUR LADY OF 121st STREET, THE HOUSE OF THE SPIRITS and A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM at Tribeca Theatre Hall.

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Om Raj has writing credits and lead roles in two short films circulating the festival circuit, A DISTRACTION and UNCOMPLETED. These films have screened at prestigious festivals  across the world, including the British Film Festival, World Impact Festival, Nepal-America International Festival, and the 14th Pune Short Festival, where Om Raj was recognized in the Best Actor category. On screen, he's often the sweet, awkward friend, the supportive colleague, or the computer nerd geeking out over the latest tech development.

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Om Raj shares his love for drama and writing as a teaching artist, nurturing the next generation of performers at Ping Chong Theatre where he helps to bring intrinsic human truth to productions using non-actors to portray real-life incidents.

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Having grown up in the Himalayas, he cherishes trekking and finds comfort amidst the peaks. The mountains taught him to stay true to who he is and to push himself to his limits. Om initially came to New York, knowing no one, with just a desire to challenge himself and to create new opportunities. He has always been determined to carve out his own path, just like the heroes he admired in movies. 

William Rogers is a recent graduate within Film and Media Arts where his concentration revolves around directing, screenwriting, and cinematography. Previous works of his include work within photojournalism and behind the scenes for smaller productions. A passion of his includes the pursuing of developing transnational narratives which highlight language discourse and fusion matters. 

Sandeep Shrestha is a Kathmandu/New York-based film editor and educator from Nepal. A graduate of Oscar International College, he received the Infinite Scholarship from Infinite Studios Singapore in 2018.

His work has been showcased at major film festivals, including Song of Clouds (Sundance), The Witness Tree (Busan), A Road to Village (Toronto), and The Eternal Melody (Rotterdam). He has served as both lead and additional editor on a wide range of fiction and documentary films.

A member of the Alliance of Documentary Editors (ADE), Sandeep has received advanced training in editing, sound design, and directing. He teaches at Nepal Film Campus and Oscar International College, and mentors emerging filmmakers through workshops in Kathmandu.

Sandeep brings a detailed, cross-cultural perspective to global independent cinema.

Nishan Ghimire is a U.S.-based film editor from Nepal, widely recognized for his impactful contributions to Nepali cinema. With a career spanning over two decades, Ghimire has edited more than 6,000 visual projects, including feature films, music videos, national TV shows, and commercials—earning him a reputation as one of the most prolific editors in the industry.

He began his journey in 2004, and while he first gained attention through music videos such as Jane Mayalu, Pilayo Sathile, and Salko Patko Tapari, it is his work in feature films that has truly defined his editorial career. His editing has played a vital role in the success of acclaimed films like Gurudakshina, Signature, Jindagi Rocks, and Mero Katha, showcasing his ability to shape narrative, emotion, and pacing with precision.

Ghimire’s editorial excellence was nationally recognized when he received an award from the former President of Nepal, Bidhya Devi Bhandari, for his contribution to Melancholy—a Guinness World Record-holding environmental film project. Now residing in the United States, Ghimire continues to push the boundaries of storytelling through film editing on an international scale.

An actor, director, and producer, Kedar Upreti is known for his versatile work in both the Bhutanese and Nepali film industries. His filmography includes the first Bhutanese Nepali movie, "Jhupadi Ko Jindagi" (2005), as well as "Tukriyeko Mutu" (2007), "Talas" (2009), "Astitowa ko ladai" (2008), "Murchunga" (2017), "Karma" (2018), "Kina" (2021), "Khai K Khai K" (2023), and "Hew ko Geet" (2024).

Kedar Upreti started his career in the movie "Punarmilan" in 2000, where he showcased his talent in scriptwriting and made his debut as a director. He has acted as a lead in more than 15 films and is recognized as a popular and successful actor within the Bhutanese community and the Nepali film industry. He considers "Jhupadi ko Jindagi" and the historical movie "Tukriyeko Ko Mutu" as his favorite films.

In 2014, Kedar Upreti was awarded the best short movie maker at the first Himalayan Films Festival Award for his movie "Welcome Back." He was also recognized by the Film Development Board, Nepal, as a producer and actor in 2017. That same year, he worked on "Murchunga," a different genre movie that gained popularity. In addition to his films, he has directed over four dozen music videos and two English movies, "Transformer" and "Taking care of needy mama," for the 48 Hours Film Festival in Dallas, Texas. He is also a writer and lyricist and launched two musical albums, "Kassam"and "Seetal," in 2017. He has directed several popular short movies, including "Dark Honey," "Transformer,""Taking Care of Needy Mama," "Karma," and "Maan Ko Baag."

Kedar Upreti received the Global Nepali Music, Media, and Social Movie Award in 2018 and the best director award for the short movie "Karma." He also received the Global Nepali Film Award on January 5, 2019, in Colorado, USA, and the ATA Everest Global Nepali Award on August 12, 2023, in New York, USA.