Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
During a storm in a remote Nepalese village, a mysterious man finds refuge in the house of a family haunted by their father's disappearance years before. Strangely unwilling to leave, he slowly reawakens lost memories of the missing father.
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Family Man by Kalani Gacon
kalanigacon.com
"Like many others, I grew up in a home without a father, and as a child used to imagine what would happen one day if our father magically came home. Could some greater power grant such a wish? What if the wishes of another family were mixed up with my own and the wrong man was sent back? Family Man explores this surreal and emotionally delicate place.
After living in the Nepali village of Gorsyang in Nuwakot for nine years on and off, I have experienced firsthand how outward labour migration pulls families apart for the best part of their lives, many of whom never come back. I chose to set my film in a neighbouring village and in the local dialect of the Tamang language to pay homage to the stories of families whose fathers never returned home and the families who wished for an alternate reality, and capture this beautiful, endangered language on screen while it is still being spoken…"
🎙️ Dive deeper into the making of Family Man with our exclusive interview with writer/director Kalani Gacon
directorsnotes.com/2026/07/01/kalani-gacon-family-man
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// Credits //
A Media Port and Friendly Dog Films Production
Written/directed/produced:
Producer: Prawin Takki Karki
Starring: Bijay Tamrakar Sangita Thapa:, Pasang Chheten
Made in collaboration with - Location Nepal, Mahesh Paudel, Travellers Crew Films , Light and Film crew Nepal
Supported by - Oscar College of Film Studies
Associate producer - Gautam Dhimal , Rajan Puri, Baba Magar
DOP - Chintan Rajbhandari
Co-writer: Maya Khan
Story consultant: Sarmila Ale
Production designer: Abhishek Subes
Art department assist: Resham Malla, Birendra Buddha
Costume designer: Sujan Pariyar, , Suraksha Regmi
Location sound:Sagar Aryal
Production manager: Shyam Khadka, Ajay GC
Production coordinator: Sammar Ranabhat
1st AD: Romash Shiwakoti
2nd AD: Chandani Shahi
Editor - Andy Finn, Kalani Gacon
Composer: Freya Berkhout
Original song by: Shreeti Pradhan
Arranged and produced by: Ganga Thapa at
Sound designer: Amit Shrestha
1st AC: Ishwor Nagarkoti
2nd AC: Axhish Shrestha
Gaffer: Lal Singh Thokar (Ronaldo)
Grip: Sanu Magar, Badri
Made in collaboration with Gatlang village, Rasuwa district, Nepal
ABOUT DIRECTORS NOTES
Since 2006 Directors Notes has curated the world's best independent films alongside exclusive daily deep dive interviews which provide behind the scenes insights into the inspirations and production stories of the most talented filmmakers on the planet.
#Nepal #shortfilm #family #grief
During a storm in a remote Nepalese village, a mysterious man finds refuge in the house of a family haunted by their father's disappearance years before. Strangely unwilling to leave, he slowly reawakens lost memories of the missing father.
🔔 Love indie films? SUBSCRIBE to Directors Notes for more trailblazing shorts: youtube.com/c/directorsnotes
🎥 Want to see your film here? Submit your work to Directors Notes: directorsnotes.com/submit
Family Man by Kalani Gacon
kalanigacon.com
"Like many others, I grew up in a home without a father, and as a child used to imagine what would happen one day if our father magically came home. Could some greater power grant such a wish? What if the wishes of another family were mixed up with my own and the wrong man was sent back? Family Man explores this surreal and emotionally delicate place.
After living in the Nepali village of Gorsyang in Nuwakot for nine years on and off, I have experienced firsthand how outward labour migration pulls families apart for the best part of their lives, many of whom never come back. I chose to set my film in a neighbouring village and in the local dialect of the Tamang language to pay homage to the stories of families whose fathers never returned home and the families who wished for an alternate reality, and capture this beautiful, endangered language on screen while it is still being spoken…"
🎙️ Dive deeper into the making of Family Man with our exclusive interview with writer/director Kalani Gacon
directorsnotes.com/2026/07/01/kalani-gacon-family-man
👉 Follow Us for More Short Film Greatness:
Newsletter: directorsnotes.beehiiv.com/subscribe
Instagram: instagram.com/directorsnotes
Podcast: pod.link/192507317
// Credits //
A Media Port and Friendly Dog Films Production
Written/directed/produced:
Producer: Prawin Takki Karki
Starring: Bijay Tamrakar Sangita Thapa:, Pasang Chheten
Made in collaboration with - Location Nepal, Mahesh Paudel, Travellers Crew Films , Light and Film crew Nepal
Supported by - Oscar College of Film Studies
Associate producer - Gautam Dhimal , Rajan Puri, Baba Magar
DOP - Chintan Rajbhandari
Co-writer: Maya Khan
Story consultant: Sarmila Ale
Production designer: Abhishek Subes
Art department assist: Resham Malla, Birendra Buddha
Costume designer: Sujan Pariyar, , Suraksha Regmi
Location sound:Sagar Aryal
Production manager: Shyam Khadka, Ajay GC
Production coordinator: Sammar Ranabhat
1st AD: Romash Shiwakoti
2nd AD: Chandani Shahi
Editor - Andy Finn, Kalani Gacon
Composer: Freya Berkhout
Original song by: Shreeti Pradhan
Arranged and produced by: Ganga Thapa at
Sound designer: Amit Shrestha
1st AC: Ishwor Nagarkoti
2nd AC: Axhish Shrestha
Gaffer: Lal Singh Thokar (Ronaldo)
Grip: Sanu Magar, Badri
Made in collaboration with Gatlang village, Rasuwa district, Nepal
ABOUT DIRECTORS NOTES
Since 2006 Directors Notes has curated the world's best independent films alongside exclusive daily deep dive interviews which provide behind the scenes insights into the inspirations and production stories of the most talented filmmakers on the planet.
#Nepal #shortfilm #family #grief
