Barun Kawasi

Starting from his early creative journey in the 1990s, Akash Adhikari (born January 5, 1970) is a prominent Nepali actor, director, producer, writer, and lyricist, recognized for his strong and dignified presence in the Nepali film industry. He has released 19 feature films in Nepal and abroad, establishing himself as one of the most versatile and influential figures in contemporary Nepali cinema.Adhikari made a glorious directorial debut with Ranabhoomi (1998), winning Best Director and Best Movie awards. Since then, he has acted in and directed several acclaimed films, including Panchhi (2001), Daag (2001), Krodh (2006), Shasan (2011), Kathmandu (2010), Kohinoor (2014), and Kanchhi (2018).He is also the founder and CEO of The Sky Movies Pvt. Ltd., established in 1999 A.D., through which he has produced and directed numerous successful films. His contributions extend to screenwriting, story writing, research, production design, and lyric writing, making him one of the most multi‑disciplinary creators in Nepali cinema.Adhikari has been honored with several prestigious awards, including the Dadasaheb Phalke Film Foundation Award 2023 for Best Actor/Director, the Prawal Jana Sewa Padak 2019, and the National Professional Achievement Award 2021.

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.

Neer Bikram Shah, also known as Nir Shah, is a Nepalese movie actor, a poet, lyricist, movie director,media personality and businessman. He is related to the Royal family of Nepal. Neer Shah is the producer or co-producer of many Nepali movies. He has also directed several Nepali movies produced by himself, including Basudev, Pachchis Basanta, Basanti, and a Nepal Bhasa movie Rajamati. He is also a co-producer of the Oscar nominated film Himalaya – l’enfance d’un chef, which was co-produced and directed by the French movie maker Eric Valli. The film, also released as Caravan (in Canada) and Himalaya (in Denmark and France), was the first film from Nepal to win an Oscar nomination.

Hira Singh Khatri is regarded as one of the earliest architects of Nepali cinema, best known for directing Aama (1964), the first Nepali feature film produced in Nepal under the Royal Nepal Film Corporation. His work marked the formal beginning of Nepal’s national film industry, establishing narrative, technical, and production standards for future filmmakers. Khatri later directed Hijo Aaja Bholi (1967), further strengthening the foundation of Nepali storytelling on screen. His films emphasized patriotism, social values, and emotional realism, influencing a generation of emerging directors. As a pioneering figure who helped transition Nepal from stage and radio culture into cinematic expression, Hira Singh Khatri’s contribution remains a defining milestone in the history of Nepali filmmaking.