Kathmandu, May 11
The Nepali film Crawling Crows: Aankha, directed by Zaun Yonjan, has achieved a historic milestone by winning two prestigious Remy Awards at the WorldFest-Houston International Film Festival held in the United States. The organising committee recently notified the filmmakers via email of the wins. The film took home the Platinum Remy Award in the Foreign Features category and the Gold Award in the Directing – Craft category.
The festival, which brings together filmmakers and creations from around the world, was held in Houston, Texas.
Founded in 1961, the Houston International Film Festival is considered one of the oldest independent film festivals in the world. Renowned directors such as Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, David Lynch, and Ang Lee all received Remy Awards here early in their careers. Winning the top Platinum and Gold awards at such a globally prestigious platform has firmly established Nepali cinema on the world stage.
The film had previously made history by winning Best Film at the 62nd Asia Pacific Film Festival. With a historic win in Asia and now two prestigious Remy Awards in America, Aankha has succeeded in drawing serious global attention to Nepal’s rising film industry.
The international recognition earned by director Yonjan powerfully demonstrates that Nepali stories can touch audiences worldwide. Film critics say this success highlights the growing technical and storytelling strength of Nepali filmmaking and its ability to reach audiences far beyond national borders.
The film portrays the lives, struggles, and realities of ordinary people living in squatter settlements with deep sensitivity and emotion. It features performances by Smita Lamichhane, Pashupati Rai, Nisha Adhikari, RK Mehta, Bijay Baral, Buddhi Tamang, and others.
