Deepak Rauniyar (b. 1978, Saptari, Nepal) became the first Nepali director to compete at a prestigious international film festival. His debut HIGHWAY world premiered at the Berlinale 2012 and also played Locarno. In his own country, the social drama provoked a heated reaction due to the singularly realistic portrayal of the contemporary situation for much of the citizenry. Other Nepali directors followed Rauniyar’s example, choosing topics connected to issues facing a country crippled by long years of civil war. WHITE SUN is the director’s second feature and it surpassed the festival success of his debut, with participation at the festivals in Venice, Toronto, Busan, Singapore, and Palm Springs, where the director won his first significant awards. The film has screened in over seventy international film festivals. Earlier this year, the New York Times included Rauniyar in their “Nine New Directors You Need to Watch” list and Sydney Film Festival invited him to serve as a member of the official competition jury. Rauniyar is an alumnus of the Toronto, Berlinale Talents and Rotterdam Labs as well as the Cannes – Cinéfondation program.

SELECTED FILMOGRAPHY
2016 White Sun (feature)
2012 Highway (feature)
2010 Pooja (short)
2008 Threshold | Chaukaith (short)

CREW

Producers: Deepak Rauniyar, Joslyn Barnes, Tsering Rhitar Sherpa, Michel Merkt

Director: Deepak Rauniyar

Screenplay: Deepak Rauniyar, David Barker

Director of Photography: Mark O’Fearghail

Editing: David Barker

Sound: Jaap Sijben

Music by: Vivek Maddala

CAST

Dayahang Rai

Asha Magrati

Rabindra Singh Baniya

Sumi Malla

Amrit Pariyar

DVD

Digital
   

Venice Film Festival – INTERFILM AWARDS
Valladolid International Film Festival
Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival
Dubai International Film Festival
Singapore International Film Festival – SILVER SCREEN AWARDS

New Directors New Films, New York
Palm Springs International Film Festival – New Voices/New Visions Grand Jury Prize
International Film Festival Rotterdam