“Dobchu”, a Bhutanese horror film, dominated the Bhutan National Film Awards 2026 in Punakha, winning nine awards. The film received 16 nominations, the highest among this year’s entries. A total of 21 feature films and three short films competed in the award, an increase from just nine films last year. The Minister of Industry, Commerce and Employment attended the event, along with senior government and district officials.
The movie “Dobchu” won in nine categories: 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.
“We faced many difficulties while making Dobchu, and we are extremely excited to receive this award. This achievement does not belong to me alone; it is the spirit and hard work of our entire team. Therefore, I would like to thank them wholeheartedly. Without their support, the film would not have reached this level,” said Karma, the Film Director of Dobchu.
Directed by Karma, popularly known as Karma Jerry, Dobchu is a horror film that revolves around themes of family curse and supernatural occurrences. It blends horror elements with cultural, emotional and romantic storylines.
Likewise, Pelden Dorji won the Best Director of the Year award for the film “The Debt Call”. Now, in his seventies, the veteran filmmaker began his career in photography and filmmaking in the late 1970s and has received the Best Director award four times to date.
“Receiving the Best Director award is truly encouraging for us. In fact, I once considered resigning from this career. However, I made a promise that I would continue until my last breath. Although I had already decided to keep working in this field, as I have no other profession, this award has inspired me to reflect more deeply and dedicate myself even further to this work in the future.”
The Best Actor Female award went to Sonam Lhamo for her performance in “The Debt Call”. The film tells the story of a woman haunted by regret and guilt after abandoning her newborn baby.
“Honestly, I did not expect to receive this award, as there are many other talented actresses. So, I did not have any hope of winning. The film ‘The Debt Call’ is about the life of a woman, and we faced many difficulties while shooting in the jungle. This award has given me great encouragement to work even better in the future. We often say that hard work is rewarded, and I felt truly amazed to receive this award today.”
Similarly, Kuenzang Norbu won the Best Actor Male award for his role in ‘Lights, Camera Action.’ The comedy-drama follows the pursuit of dreams through determination and offers a glimpse into how films are made in the Bhutanese film industry.
To encourage and motivate emerging filmmakers and younger generations, three short films were also included in the award. The Best Short Film award went to “Zampa: The Bridge”, directed by Chand RC. The film focuses on mental health and suicide awareness.
More than a thousand residents of Punakha and visitors from nearby areas gathered at the event ground to witness the award ceremony. The Bhutan InfoComm and Media Authority, in collaboration with the Bhutan Broadcasting Service, with support from the Punakha District Administration, organised the event. The government, through the Economic Stimulus Programme, funded the event.
Changa Dorji, Punakha
Edited by Sonam Pem
