Bhutanese horror film Dobchu emerged as the biggest winner at the Bhutan National Film Awards held in Punakha, sweeping nine major awards and cementing its place as one of the country’s most celebrated films of the year.
The film, which received a record 16 nominations—the highest among this year’s entries—won in categories including Best Film, Best Cinematography, Best Production Design, Best Sound Design, Best Original Score, Best Make-Up, Best Culture and Dzongkha Film, Best Screenplay, and Best Lyricist.
Directed by Karma, popularly known as Karma Jerry, Dobchu blends horror with cultural, emotional, and romantic elements, revolving around themes of a family curse and supernatural occurrences. Expressing gratitude, the director credited the film’s success to the collective effort of the entire team, acknowledging the challenges faced during production.
The awards ceremony saw participation from senior government officials, including the Minister of Industry, Commerce, and Employment, and drew a crowd of over a thousand residents and visitors.
Veteran filmmaker Pelden Dorji won Best Director for his film The Debt Call. Now in his seventies, Dorji began his career in the late 1970s and has received the Best Director honor four times. He described the recognition as deeply encouraging, reaffirming his lifelong commitment to filmmaking.
The Best Actress award went to Sonam Lhamo for her role in The Debt Call, a story about a woman grappling with guilt after abandoning her newborn child. She said the award came as a surprise and credited the team’s perseverance, especially during difficult jungle shoots.
Meanwhile, Kuenzang Norbu was named Best Actor Male for his performance in Lights, Camera, Action, a comedy-drama highlighting the pursuit of dreams and offering insights into Bhutan’s film industry.
A total of 21 feature films and three short films competed this year—a significant rise from nine entries last year. Among short films, Zampa: The Bridge, directed by Chand RC, won Best Short Film for its focus on mental health and suicide awareness.
The event was organized by the Bhutan InfoComm and Media Authority in collaboration with the Bhutan Broadcasting Service, with support from the Punakha District Administration. Funding was provided through the government’s Economic Stimulus Program.
