Kalani Gacon: A Filmmaker Drawn by Nepal’s Stories

People
Entertainment
The Buzz Nepal
November 30 , 2025

A Storyteller Among Us

Kalani first came to Nepal shortly after the devastating 2015 earthquake. The tragedy, and its aftermath, inspired his hybrid documentary “Bhukampa” – told from children’s perspectives – an early example of how he uses film to engage with social reality and human resilience.

Over time, he has honed a cross-cultural cinematic voice, mixing fiction, documentary and local context – often working with both seasoned actors and non-actors.

PC: kalanigacon

Spotlight Films: From Dreams to Himalayan Villages

Sapana ko Awaz (The Sound of Dreaming): A short film about dreams and identity set in Kathmandu. The film received attention internationally, screening at festivals such as Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF), LA-Shorts, and Busan International Short Film Festival. It also earned a Jury Special Mention at the Oldenburg International Film Festival.
Family Man (2024/2025): Shot in a remote Himalayan village in Nepal, the film tells a tender, haunting story about longing, loss, and memory. Through this work, Kalani brings together remote Nepali geography, local language, and universal human emotions.

These films show not only his cinematic craft, but also his commitment to telling stories rooted in Nepal’s soil: stories that might otherwise remain unseen by wider audiences.

Music Video Work: Directing Sushant KC’s “Estai Raicha”

Kalani also ventured into Nepal’s music scene, directing Sushant KC’s hit music video “Estai Raicha.” The visually intimate and emotionally grounded video carries his signature cinematic touch: atmospheric scenes, heartfelt performances, and storytelling that enhances the music’s emotional depth.

This collaboration expanded Kalani’s connection with Nepali audiences, showing his versatility beyond film festivals and into mainstream music culture.

Why Kalani’s Work Matters for Nepal

In a globalising world, narratives often come filtered through outsiders’ lenses or skewed by commercial interests. Kalani’s films; grounded in Nepali landscapes, languages, and lived realities, offer a different kind of storytelling: one rooted in respect, involvement, and authenticity.

By mixing local voices with universal themes: dreams, loss, migration, belonging, he creates cinema that resonates both within Nepal and beyond. And through Mountain of Youth, he helps ensure that this kind of storytelling can continue, led not only by him but by a new generation of Nepali youth.

For readers of The Buzz Nepal, Kalani Gacon’s journey reminds us: sometimes home is not where you start, but where your heart chooses to tell stories: with respect, love, and an eye for what truly matters.