Travellers and Magicians

Directed by Khyentse Norbu (Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche), this 2003 film is the first feature shot entirely in Bhutan, filmed on location in the Bumthang and Ura valleys. The story follows a restless village official dreaming of emigrating to America, interwoven with a cautionary folk tale narrated by a traveling monk. It premiered at the 2003 Cannes Film Festival in the Directors' Fortnight section and screened at Toronto and Venice, introducing international audiences to Bhutan's landscapes and storytelling traditions.