The U.S. premiere of “The World’s Happiest Man” at the Nepal-America International Film Festival 2025 highlighted the power of cinema to bridge diverse cultures and address compelling immigrant narratives.
The much-anticipated U.S. premiere of the feature film “The World’s Happiest Man” was celebrated during a red-carpet event on June 28, 2025, at the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center in Silver Spring, Maryland. The event was a part of the Nepal-America International Film Festival (NAIFF), which showcased more than 30 films from 14 countries, running from June 26-29 across venues in Silver Spring and Greenbelt, Maryland.
“We’re trying to bridge diverse cultures in the United States through cinema,” said Purna Baraili, president of the Nepal America Film Society, which has hosted the NAIFF annually since 2017. This year’s festival featured critically acclaimed films such as “Shambhala,” directed by Min Bahadur Bham, which opened the festival and previously competed at the Berlin International Film Festival. The festival closed with “Pooja, Sir,” directed by Deepak Rauniyar, which initially premiered at the Venice International Film Festival.
Baraili acknowledged the significant contributions of Director Binod Paudel and legendary Nepali actor, filmmaker, and comedian Hari Bamsha Acharya, who were both present at the June 28 screening of “The World’s Happiest Man.” Director Paudel explained that the film centers on Nepali-speaking Bhutanese refugees who were expelled from Bhutan between 1998 and 1990. Having initially settled in Nepal for 22 years, many were subsequently resettled in the United States. The movie narrates the story of one individual living in the U.S. who desires to return to Bhutan but faces continual rejection of his visa applications. The film portrays the intricate psychological journey of this individual.
Paudel emphasized that the film explores the intergenerational dynamics of exile and adaptation, showing an older generation longing for their homeland, a middle generation caught between cultures, and a younger generation embracing an American identity. “This is an immigrant story. The movie captures the essence of the psychological journey of these generations at the same time,” he stated.
The concept of the film originated in Ohio in 2020, as Paudel observed an alarming frequency of suicides among the Bhutanese refugee community, often attributed to identity crises and psychological trauma. He developed the screenplay as a fictional narrative deeply rooted in real-life experiences after conducting research and speaking with affected families.
Filmed in various locations in Akron, Ohio, “The World’s Happiest Man” was completed and released in 2025. Expressing gratitude, Paudel said, “I was quite lucky that Acharya accepted my script and decided to act in my film.” Actor Acharya commented on his involvement, saying, “I was very impressed with his script. I read it three times and was happy that he reached out to me. I have seen his work previously as well. He also made a beautiful Nepali movie called ‘Bulbul.’ So, I agreed to the offer.”
“Bulbul” had also been screened at NAIFF in a previous edition. Paudel reiterated his long-standing support for Baraili and the Nepal America Film Society. Acharya noted that despite his over 20 visits to the U.S., this marked his first time attending a film festival in the country.
Actress Aditi Pyakurel, a Bhutanese refugee who also appeared in “The World’s Happiest Man,” shared her experiences with the film, stating, “It was fun acting in this movie – a story that’s like my own that I’ve seen reflected so much within my community.”
Meanwhile, Director Min Bahadur Bham, whose film “Shambhala” opened the festival, described it as his second feature, which was shot in the high Himalayas at altitudes ranging from 4,000 to 6,500 meters—a region known as one of the highest human settlements on Earth. Bham shared his inspiration, saying, “I used to hallucinate about my previous life. I always saw myself in some strange mountain village, as a young monk. Since that time, I was always curious to discover that place.”
Bham recounted writing a poem about reincarnation at 12 years old and a short story on the same theme during high school. After completing his first feature in 2015, he visited the village that had appeared in his visions and was amazed by the familiarity of every detail, from its landscapes and monastery to the local monks.
Among the attendees of the June 28 screening was director and producer Vijaykumar Mirchandani. Though his film was not selected for NAIFF this year, he came to support his peers. “But it’s always good to come and support your peers. I’m here to support one of the producers of the film, Kirtana Banskota, who is a friend of mine. She’s also an actor director for my next short film,” he said.
Kirtana Banskota, a co-founder of the Nepal America Film Society and NAIFF, traveled from Austin, Texas, for the festival. “The festival was founded in 2017 with the sole purpose of not only bridging communities together but also highlighting Nepali films,” she noted. NAIFF, supported by Prince George’s County, Maryland, is committed to offering local filmmakers opportunities to showcase their work alongside international cinema, according to South Asian Herald.
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