
Directing
Sonthar Gyal
Born
1974-05-29 (52)
Place of birth
Hainan,Qinghai Province,China
Known for
Directing
Credits
11 titles
Sonthar Gyal (b. 1974) is a Tibetan director from Tongde County, Hainan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai. Gyal studied at the Tsolho Nationalities Teacher Training College in Hainan Prefecture and taught in the nomadic community for four years. Afterwards, he received a scholarship to study fine arts at the Qinghai Normal University in Xining. After graduating in 2003 with a B.A. in Fine Arts, he worked as an art teacher and a curator at the Tongde Cultural Museum. Encouraged by his friend, Pema Tseden, who also hails from Hainan Prefecture, Gyal followed him to the prestigious Beijing Film Academy, where he studied cinematography for 2 years with the support of Trace Foundation. Upon…
Known for
NRDocumentary about China's film industry and the monumental changes in the past 40 years from beginning with propaganda films to the "5th generation" filmmakers and beyond, who embraced art and commercial films to make China the second largest box office market in the world after Hollywood.
The 40th Anniversary of Chinese Film Since China's Reform and Opening-Up
2018
7.1A touching story about Tibetan people’s pilgrimage to Lhasa.
Ala Changso
2018
7.5An award-winning debut feature from Tibetan director Sonthar Gyal, The Sun Beaten Path presents the story of a young man making a pilgrimage to Lhasa to overcome the guilt of causing a family member’s death.
The Sun Beaten Path
2011
5.0Lhamo and Skalbe fail to get married when they find out that Skalbe has already registered a marriage. Memories rush back as Skalbe embarks on a journey in search for his so-called ex-wife Cuoyehe, only to discover that the girl had renunciated her secular life when she broke their marriage promise four years ago. As a result, Cuoyehe's religious identity causes great difficulty in Skalbe's attempt at a divorce. On the other hand, Lhamo becomes aloof.
Lhamo and Skalbe
2019
2.5A man returns home after sixteen years for his father's funeral, only to uncover a long-buried family secret and the truth about his unresolved relationship with his deceased father.
Bystander
2025
7.4The rich complexity of human relationships is central to this story of a young girl, her father, and his father, who each long to strengthen their bonds, but find themselves fighting the weight of personal and national histories. Tibetan writer-Director Sonthar Gyal (The Sun-Beaten Path) makes breathtaking use of the Tibetan plains and mountains as an epic backdrop to this intimate family drama.
River
2015
Series credits
Behind the camera
7.1A touching story about Tibetan people’s pilgrimage to Lhasa.
Ala Changso
2018
7.1A touching story about Tibetan people’s pilgrimage to Lhasa.
Ala Changso
2018
7.1A touching story about Tibetan people’s pilgrimage to Lhasa.
Ala Changso
2018
7.5An award-winning debut feature from Tibetan director Sonthar Gyal, The Sun Beaten Path presents the story of a young man making a pilgrimage to Lhasa to overcome the guilt of causing a family member’s death.
The Sun Beaten Path
2011
5.0Lhamo and Skalbe fail to get married when they find out that Skalbe has already registered a marriage. Memories rush back as Skalbe embarks on a journey in search for his so-called ex-wife Cuoyehe, only to discover that the girl had renunciated her secular life when she broke their marriage promise four years ago. As a result, Cuoyehe's religious identity causes great difficulty in Skalbe's attempt at a divorce. On the other hand, Lhamo becomes aloof.
Lhamo and Skalbe
2019
5.0Lhamo and Skalbe fail to get married when they find out that Skalbe has already registered a marriage. Memories rush back as Skalbe embarks on a journey in search for his so-called ex-wife Cuoyehe, only to discover that the girl had renunciated her secular life when she broke their marriage promise four years ago. As a result, Cuoyehe's religious identity causes great difficulty in Skalbe's attempt at a divorce. On the other hand, Lhamo becomes aloof.
Lhamo and Skalbe
2019
2.5A man returns home after sixteen years for his father's funeral, only to uncover a long-buried family secret and the truth about his unresolved relationship with his deceased father.
Bystander
2025
2.5A man returns home after sixteen years for his father's funeral, only to uncover a long-buried family secret and the truth about his unresolved relationship with his deceased father.
Bystander
2025
7.4The rich complexity of human relationships is central to this story of a young girl, her father, and his father, who each long to strengthen their bonds, but find themselves fighting the weight of personal and national histories. Tibetan writer-Director Sonthar Gyal (The Sun-Beaten Path) makes breathtaking use of the Tibetan plains and mountains as an epic backdrop to this intimate family drama.
River
2015
7.4The rich complexity of human relationships is central to this story of a young girl, her father, and his father, who each long to strengthen their bonds, but find themselves fighting the weight of personal and national histories. Tibetan writer-Director Sonthar Gyal (The Sun-Beaten Path) makes breathtaking use of the Tibetan plains and mountains as an epic backdrop to this intimate family drama.
River
2015
