Lawa Pyakurel (born April 30, 1973, Nepali: लव प्याकुरेल), born Bala Ram Pyakurel, is a Nepalese filmmaker and editor primarily known for his work in the documentary film genre. His most notable films include Wound of Panchayat (Panchayat Ko Ghau), Blue Sky (Nilo Akash), and Girls Rewriting Destiny. Pyakurel is ab audiovisual producer proficient in both linear and non-linear editing systems.
Career Pyakurel has over 30 years of experience in the Nepalese film industry. He began his professional career in 1993 as an assistant director for the film 'Khandahar ko Phool' (Flower of Ruins), directed by Suyog Koirala. He later served as the chief assistant director and editor for Guru Dakshina and Raag-Viragam, which were Nepal's first Sanskrit-language telefilms.
In 1994, he produced his first documentary, Jhilko (A Spark Can Start a Great Fire). Since then, Pyakurel has worked on more than 100 projects, including feature film, short films, documentaries, television talk shows, news reports, television commercials (TVCs), and public service announcements (PSAs).
Biography and recognition Pyakurel has received several national and international honors for his work in cinema and media, including: Shikhar Honor (2018), Golden Honor (2019), Mahakavi Laxmi Prasad Devkota Talent Honor (2019), National Tribute Honor (2020), Special Citizen Award (2022).
In addition to his filmmaking, Pyakurel is a commentator on film-related themes. His articles and opinion pieces have appeared in major Nepalese national dailies, such as the Annapurna Post, Naya Patrika, Himalaya Times, and The Rising Nepal. He is also a founding member of the Executive Committee of the SAARC Journalist Forum (SJF) Nepal Chapter, an international organization representing journalists from South Asian countries.
Selected filmography Year Title Director Editor Producer Genre 1993 Flower of Ruins (Khandahar ko Phool) Mega-serial 1994 Form and Fate (Rup ra Bhagya) Video Film 1994 A Spark Can Start a Great Fire (Jhilko)| style="text-align:center;"| | style="text-align:center;"| | style="text-align:center;"| | Documentary Film |- | 1995 | A Light of Hope (Ashako Diyo) Video Film 1996 Time Watch (Samaya Ghadi) Experimental Film 1997 The Dream (Sapana) Video Film 1997 Atonement (Prayaschit) Fiction Film 2000 Gurkhas’ Blues Documentary Film 2000 Marriage After 20+ TVC 2001 Safe Maternal Health Celluloid Advertisement 2004 The Other Side of the Coin Documentary Film 2004 Community Actions-Global Impact Documentary Film 2005-06 Perspective (Distrikon) TV Program 2006 Kaal-khanda Novel Series 2006 People’s Participation in Rhino Conservation Documentary Film 2007 Guru Dakshina Sanskrit Language Tele-film 2007 Forgotten Woman (Birsieaka Mahilaharu) Documentary Film 2007 Angnima: The Icefall Doctor Observational Documentary 2008 Raag-Biragam Sanskrit Language Tele-film 2008 Wound of Panchayat (Panchayat ko Ghau)| style="text-align:center;"| | style="text-align:center;"| | style="text-align:center;"| | Documentary Film |- | 2009 | Sherpas: The True Heroes of Mount Everest Documentary Film 2010 The Shadow of Mount Everest (Sagarmatha ko Pratibimba) Documentary Film 2010 Enabling Smaller Voices Documentary Film 2011-14 Labour and Creation (Sharm ra Srijana) TV Program 2012 Nizamati: Under Fire Documentary Film 2012 Steps (Paila) Documentary Film 2012-13 Entrepreneur (Udhyam) TV Program 2013 Transforming Faces Documentary Film 2013 Helicopter Rescuer in the Himalayas Documentary Film 2013 Lumbini to Seoul Documentary Film 2013 Wish of God TVC 2014 Save the Country Feature Film 2014 Teachers can make a Difference Campaign Video 2015 Revolving Face (Pheriyeko Muhar) Documentary Film 2015 Revolving Face (Pheriye ko Muhar) Documentary Film 2015 Community Forestry: Trail to Highway Documentary Film 2015 Theater for Social Transformation Documentary Film 2015 Healer of Humla Experimental Short Video 2016 Cost of Dust (Dhulo ko Mulya) Documentary Film 2016 Karnali Development Diary Documentary Film 2016 Class Power (Barga-Satta) Documentary Film 2016 Education Reform Plan in Nepal Documentary Film 2016 Wedding of Maize (Makai ko Bihe)| style="text-align:center;"| | style="text-align:center;"| | style="text-align:center;"| | Documentary Film |- | 2016 | Education Reform Plan in Nepal Documentary Film 2017 PPP (Public-Private-Partnership) Documentary Film 2017 Community Formularization Documentary Film 2017 Epic Centre: Blackout Documentary Film 2018 Technical Knowledge of Workers Educational Video Materials 2018 Gorilla Track Documentary Film 2018 Community Empowerment and Development Achievement Documentary Film 2019 Blue Sky (Nilo Akash)| style="text-align:center;"| | style="text-align:center;"| | style="text-align:center;"| | Documentary Film |- | 2019 | Successful Story Participatory Documentary 2019 Unbroken Hopes Participatory Short Documentary 2020 Behind the Herd Experimental Documentary 2021 Ox Fiesta (Goru Parwa)| style="text-align:center;"| | style="text-align:center;"| | style="text-align:center;"| | Documentary Film |- | 2022 | Chitawan Irrigation; Community-based Project Documentary Film 2022 Path of Development; Bagmati Irrigation Project Documentary Film 2024 Girls Rewriting Destiny Documentary Film 2025 (Updated) ''Jugal: A Symbol of Unwavering Belief'' Documentary Film
Awards Title Awards Category Film Result2009 Best Editor Best Director
Best DocumentaryNational Nuwakot Documentary Film Festival (NNDFF)National Nuwakot Documentary Film Festival (NNDFF), Organized by Batra Ganga Society on 29–30 January 2009Documentary FilmWound of PanchayatWon2019Heroes of Documentary Film EditorNFDC National Film AwardNepali DocumentaryNon-fiction GenreWon2022Best Documentary Filmmaker and EditorSpecial Citizen Award and HonorSpecial Citizen Award and Honor, organized by Civil Society for Social Transformation Nepal on 16 July 2022Art and FilmArt and Film FieldWon2023Best Documentary DirectorSpiny Babbler International Film Festival (SBIFF)Documentary FilmJugal: A Symbol of Unwavering BeliefWon2025Best Documentary FilmNepal International Film Festival (NIFF)Audience Choice AwardGirls Rewriting DestinyWon2026Best National Documentary FilmNepal Cultural International Film Festival Best Documentary AwardGirls Rewriting DestinyWon
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