Byamba Sakhya

Directing

Byamba Sakhya

Known for

Directing

Credits

8 titles

Born in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, Byamba Sakhya graduated All Russian State Film Institute – VGIK as cinematographer. He is a documentary and fiction filmmaker with a long record collaboration on international film productions. His documentary PASSION (2010) won main prizes at film festivals in Asia, the Americas, and Europe; his first feature, REMOTE CONTROL (2013) the winner of the Prince Claus Film Fund Award was supported by the Hubert Bals Script Development Fund and by the World Cinema Fund and was later premiered at the 18th Busan IFF and received the New Currents Award. Byamba is co-founder of Guru Media – a production company. BEDRIDDEN (2020) is his latest feature.

Known for

Zogsool poster
NR

The vast Mongolian grassland stretches across the screen, with blue skies and beautiful clouds filling half the frame. Underneath, an oil tanker truck drives for some time along a scenic road, before coming to a stop in front of a small town. When the town is suddenly sealed off due to the COVID pandemic, Sumber, the oil tanker driver, is quarantined at the gas station. Khanda, a single mother who manages the station while being exploited for sex and labor by a corrupt government official and the greedy owner, is now also tasked with looking after Sumber.

Zogsool

2026

Bedridden poster
NR

A multi-generational story of love and loss centered around a young writer who must face the consequences of his egocentric decision to become bedridden.

Bedridden

2020

RESTART poster
NR

An anthology film created under one theme by 3 directors who are creating their own colors in contemporary Mongolian cinema.

RESTART

2023

Remote Control poster
6.3

Teenage boy Tsog lives in the slums outside Ulan Bator. He sells milk from his neighbor to support his family, with whom he frequently quarrels. The flight of his imagination is Tsog's only solace— he spends hours drawing his hero, a young monk. After a fight with his parents Tsog takes off to the city, where he settles on the roof of an apartment building. From this new vantage point he spots a beautiful but troubled young woman inhabiting a nearby penthouse. Seeking to intertwine their fates— to bridge the gap between their social, economic, and spiritual conditions— Tsog steals a remote which he uses to control the young woman's television set.

Remote Control

2013

Passion poster
NR

An unpredictable and grand road trip over the steppes undertaken by two filmmakers.

Passion

2010

Poets of Mongolia poster
NR

The film starts in Nalaikh where old Mongolchaan is one of the many former miners who - after the closure of the mine - continues digging for coal in order to survive. Despite the extremely severe working conditions, he perseveres to support his children. Mongolchaan sells his coal to Basandorj, a middleman between the coal pits and the power stations in the city. Basandorj delivers the coal to a power station where young Erdenetsetseg is in charge. Despite the harsh environment, she enjoys her life and work. The electricity produced by the power plant enlightens blind Amarjarkhal's apartment. Ever since she moved from Nalaikh to the capital she makes a living as a writer and performer of popular songs.

Poets of Mongolia

1999

Behind the camera

Zogsool poster
NR

The vast Mongolian grassland stretches across the screen, with blue skies and beautiful clouds filling half the frame. Underneath, an oil tanker truck drives for some time along a scenic road, before coming to a stop in front of a small town. When the town is suddenly sealed off due to the COVID pandemic, Sumber, the oil tanker driver, is quarantined at the gas station. Khanda, a single mother who manages the station while being exploited for sex and labor by a corrupt government official and the greedy owner, is now also tasked with looking after Sumber.

Zogsool

2026

Bedridden poster
NR

A multi-generational story of love and loss centered around a young writer who must face the consequences of his egocentric decision to become bedridden.

Bedridden

2020

Bedridden poster
NR

A multi-generational story of love and loss centered around a young writer who must face the consequences of his egocentric decision to become bedridden.

Bedridden

2020

RESTART poster
NR

An anthology film created under one theme by 3 directors who are creating their own colors in contemporary Mongolian cinema.

RESTART

2023

Remote Control poster
6.3

Teenage boy Tsog lives in the slums outside Ulan Bator. He sells milk from his neighbor to support his family, with whom he frequently quarrels. The flight of his imagination is Tsog's only solace— he spends hours drawing his hero, a young monk. After a fight with his parents Tsog takes off to the city, where he settles on the roof of an apartment building. From this new vantage point he spots a beautiful but troubled young woman inhabiting a nearby penthouse. Seeking to intertwine their fates— to bridge the gap between their social, economic, and spiritual conditions— Tsog steals a remote which he uses to control the young woman's television set.

Remote Control

2013

Remote Control poster
6.3

Teenage boy Tsog lives in the slums outside Ulan Bator. He sells milk from his neighbor to support his family, with whom he frequently quarrels. The flight of his imagination is Tsog's only solace— he spends hours drawing his hero, a young monk. After a fight with his parents Tsog takes off to the city, where he settles on the roof of an apartment building. From this new vantage point he spots a beautiful but troubled young woman inhabiting a nearby penthouse. Seeking to intertwine their fates— to bridge the gap between their social, economic, and spiritual conditions— Tsog steals a remote which he uses to control the young woman's television set.

Remote Control

2013

Passion poster
NR

An unpredictable and grand road trip over the steppes undertaken by two filmmakers.

Passion

2010

Poets of Mongolia poster
NR

The film starts in Nalaikh where old Mongolchaan is one of the many former miners who - after the closure of the mine - continues digging for coal in order to survive. Despite the extremely severe working conditions, he perseveres to support his children. Mongolchaan sells his coal to Basandorj, a middleman between the coal pits and the power stations in the city. Basandorj delivers the coal to a power station where young Erdenetsetseg is in charge. Despite the harsh environment, she enjoys her life and work. The electricity produced by the power plant enlightens blind Amarjarkhal's apartment. Ever since she moved from Nalaikh to the capital she makes a living as a writer and performer of popular songs.

Poets of Mongolia

1999