Directing

Sonthar Gyal

Born May 29, 1974 · Hainan，Qinghai Province，China (age 52)

Sonthar Gyal (b. 1974) is a Tibetan director from Tongde County, Hainan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai. Gyal studied at the Tsolho Nationalities Teacher Training College in Hainan Prefecture and taught in the nomadic community for four years. Afterwards, he received a scholarship to study fine arts at the Qinghai Normal University in Xining. After graduating in 2003 with a B.A. in Fine Art…

Known For

The Sun Beaten Path

The Sun Beaten Path · 2011

The Sun Beaten Path

An award-winning debut feature from Tibetan director Sonthar Gyal, The Sun Beaten Path presents the story of a young man making a pilgrimage to Lhasa to overcome the guilt of causing a family member’s death.

Lhamo and Skalbe

Lhamo and Skalbe · 2019

Lhamo and Skalbe

Lhamo and Skalbe fail to get married when they find out that Skalbe has already registered a marriage. Memories rush back as Skalbe embarks on a journey in search for his so-called ex-wife Cuoyehe, only to discover that the girl had renunciated her secular life when she broke their marriage promise four years ago. As a result, Cuoyehe's religious identity causes great difficulty in Skalbe's attempt at a divorce. On the other hand, Lhamo becomes aloof.

The Grassland

The Grassland · 2004

Pema's graduation film made for Beijing Film Academy, Set in rural Tibet ; it is a timeless allegory of an old nomadic couple searching for a stolen yak.

Bystander

Bystander · 2025

A man returns home after sixteen years for his father's funeral, only to uncover a long-buried family secret and the truth about his unresolved relationship with his deceased father.

Flares Wafting in 1983

Flares Wafting in 1983 · 2008

Flares Wafting in 1983

River

The rich complexity of human relationships is central to this story of a young girl, her father, and his father, who each long to strengthen their bonds, but find themselves fighting the weight of personal and national histories. Tibetan writer-Director Sonthar Gyal (The Sun-Beaten Path) makes breathtaking use of the Tibetan plains and mountains as an epic backdrop to this intimate family drama.

Ala Changso

Ala Changso · 2018

A touching story about Tibetan people’s pilgrimage to Lhasa.

Old Dog

Old Dog · 2011

A story of an aged sheepherder, his gruff grown son (who’s having trouble conceiving a child with his wife) and the old man’s Tibetan mastiff hound – a highly prized breed, much sought after by urban Chinese – whose existence is imperiled from all sides.

Filmography

Sort

The Sun Beaten Path

The Sun Beaten Path · 2011

The Sun Beaten Path

An award-winning debut feature from Tibetan director Sonthar Gyal, The Sun Beaten Path presents the story of a young man making a pilgrimage to Lhasa to overcome the guilt of causing a family member’s death.

Director

Lhamo and Skalbe

Lhamo and Skalbe · 2019

Lhamo and Skalbe

Lhamo and Skalbe fail to get married when they find out that Skalbe has already registered a marriage. Memories rush back as Skalbe embarks on a journey in search for his so-called ex-wife Cuoyehe, only to discover that the girl had renunciated her secular life when she broke their marriage promise four years ago. As a result, Cuoyehe's religious identity causes great difficulty in Skalbe's attempt at a divorce. On the other hand, Lhamo becomes aloof.

Director

The Grassland

The Grassland · 2004

Pema's graduation film made for Beijing Film Academy, Set in rural Tibet ; it is a timeless allegory of an old nomadic couple searching for a stolen yak.

Production Design

Bystander

Bystander · 2025

A man returns home after sixteen years for his father's funeral, only to uncover a long-buried family secret and the truth about his unresolved relationship with his deceased father.

Director

Flares Wafting in 1983

Flares Wafting in 1983 · 2008

Flares Wafting in 1983

Director of Photography

River

The rich complexity of human relationships is central to this story of a young girl, her father, and his father, who each long to strengthen their bonds, but find themselves fighting the weight of personal and national histories. Tibetan writer-Director Sonthar Gyal (The Sun-Beaten Path) makes breathtaking use of the Tibetan plains and mountains as an epic backdrop to this intimate family drama.

Director

Ala Changso

Ala Changso · 2018

A touching story about Tibetan people’s pilgrimage to Lhasa.

Director

Old Dog

Old Dog · 2011

A story of an aged sheepherder, his gruff grown son (who’s having trouble conceiving a child with his wife) and the old man’s Tibetan mastiff hound – a highly prized breed, much sought after by urban Chinese – whose existence is imperiled from all sides.

Cinematography

The Search

The Search · 2009

A filmmaker searches the Himalayas for an actor and actress to play the lead roles in his Tibetan opera.

Director of Photography

The Silent Holy Stones

The Silent Holy Stones · 2005

The Silent Holy Stones

A young Tibetan monk goes back home for the New Year's celebrations. Fascinated by television, he wants to bring his family's television to the monastery to show it to his master.

Art Designer

The 40th Anniversary of Chinese Film Since China's Reform and Opening-Up

The 40th Anniversary of Chinese Film Since China's Reform and Opening-Up · 2018

The 40th Anniversary of Chinese Film Since China's Reform and Opening-Up

SeriesDocumentary

Documentary about China's film industry and the monumental changes in the past 40 years from beginning with propaganda films to the "5th generation" filmmakers and beyond, who embraced art and commercial films to make China the second largest box office market in the world after Hollywood.