Asha Magrati

Asha Magrati, honestly, is kind of a powerhouse in the Nepali film scene, but she’s not just hanging around in the background—she’s right at the center of it all. Born and raised in Nepal, now rocking it as a Nepali American, she’s basically one of those multi-hyphenate folks: screenwriter, producer, actor—probably does her own stunts too, wouldn’t even be surprised. She co-founded Aadi Films and the Gograha Film Workshop, which is pretty cool because both are all about pushing new voices and fresh ideas into Nepali cinema. And let’s be real, the industry seriously needs more of that. Her filmography? Wildly impressive. She’s behind and in front of the camera for The Sky Is Mine, a drama-thriller that’s managed to rack up serious international buzz, with support and nods from places like the New York State Council of Arts all the way to Sørfond Norway. Oh, and she nabbed the lead role, co-wrote, and produced. No big deal. She also did the same triple-threat act for Four Nights, which—casual flex—was a Golden Bear nominee. Asha’s face probably looks familiar if you’ve seen White Sun, which snagged the Interfilm award at the Venice Film Festival, or Highway, which had its moment at the Berlinale, or even Kagbeni, which made waves in Shanghai. She’s also a Berlinale Talents alum and trained in Playback Theater, which just adds more layers to her whole deal. The Kathmandu Post even called her one of the 25 people who helped shape Nepal in the last quarter-century. So yeah, she’s not just making movies—she’s making a mark.