03/11/2022
Director of Yellow C**t (2013)
Khoroldorj CHOIJOOVANCHIG
Khoroldorj Choijoovanchig is an independent filmmaker from Mongolia, wrote and directed his short films, and who also collaborates with fellow filmmakers as a cinematographer and an editor.
His debut short “Dream” (2010) screened at the Cannes Short Film Corner and competed in the 48 Hour Film Project and ShortShorts Film Festival. His next film “Once Upon a Time” (2011) won the Best Cinematography Award in Mongolia’s 48HFP. In 2010, he was selected for the East Meets West Film Forum, and in 2011 and 2012, he participated in workshops at the Asian Film Academy, Berlinale Talents, and Talents Tokyo during the Tokyo FILMeX Festival.
In 2013, he made his debut feature Yellow C**t, about a young Mongolian boy who returns to live with his nomad family after his adoptive uncle passes away and forms an emotional bond with a horse that he trains for a local racing competition. Mingling arthouse cinema and Mongolian folklore, it foregrounds themes of homeland, exile, and attachment, while highlighting the quiet beauty of the nomadic life in the country’s rural pasturelands.
Supported by the Mongolian Government’s Ministry of Culture and the Asian Cinema Fund, Yellow C**t screened at the Busan International Film Festival and Fribourg IFF and competed in the NETPAC Awards Competition at the Bengaluru IFF. Critically praised for its visual qualities and unique blend of genres, it also featured in Mongolian film showcases in London, Moscow, and Copenhagen.
Obtained MFA in cinematography at the International Film and Television School in Paris (EICAR) and is currently directing his first feature documentary Colors of White Rock.
FILMOGRAPH:
DIRECTOR / WRITER / PRODUCER
LADY OF THE GOBI (2021) – Cowriter, Director & Co-Producer
Documentary 25’ 2K – A commission by NHK Japan, Petite Maison Production France, NHK Global Media Services Japan, iCIty Films Mongolia
Yellow C**t (2013) – Director & Producer
Drama Feature film 91’, 2K HD – A portrait of rural Mongolian life among a family of horse herders
I City Films – Busan International Film Festival (A Window on Asian Cinema), Bengalore IFF (NETPAC Awards Competition), Fribourg IFF (New Territory), Ulaanbaatar IFF, showcases in London (Asia House Film Festival), Danish Film Institute, Moscow, Osaka; Best Screenplay and Debut Film at Mongolian Academy Awards 2014
Once Upon a Time (2011) – Director & Producer
Drama Short 7’, HD – Based on a Mongolian folktale - I City Films
48HFP Mongolia 2011 – won Jury Award, Best Cinematography Award
Abnormal (2011) – Director, Writer, Producer
Drama Short 6’, HD – A look at the rise of birth defects in Mongolia’s polluted cities- I City Films – Selected for “Best 10” in the "48 GoGreen" International Online ECO Filmmaking Competition, 2011
Dream (2010) – Director, Writer, Producer
Experimental Short 6’, HD – A man seeks escape through memories and dreams in Mongolia’s polluted capital
I City Films – 48HFP Mongolia 2011 – Best Film, Best Script, Best Director Awards
Cannes Short Film Corner 2011, National winner of Mongolian 48HFP in 2010, in competition at Short Shorts Film Festival-Stop GLOBAL Warming 2011, International 48HFP Festival & "Best of 48HFP 2010"
CINEMATOGRAPHER
LADY OF THE GOBI (2021) – by Khoroldorj Choijoovanchig - Cinematographer
Documentary 25’ 2K – A commission by NHK Japan, Selected in SUNDANCE – DOC DEV FUND – Petite Maison Production France, iCIty Films Mongolia
AT THE COAL FACE (2021) – by Anu Hasbold - Cinematographer
Documentary 25’ 2K – A commission by Al Jazeera and Screen Australia, Selected as part of AIDC’s Witness Initiative - Australia – THREE FIVE FILMS
Winter’s Reach – by Geoffrey & William Ames – forthcoming, filming – Cinematographer
Drama Feature film – Ames and Cross International Films
Morin Khuur – The Horsehead Fiddle (2019) by Joshua Sternlicht – Cinematographer
Drama Short 20’ 2K HD - Germany – Eyespot films – INTERFILM Berlin 2020, Brussels Short Film Festival 2020
Last 5 Minutes (2011) – Cinematographer
Drama Short 10’, HD – Last 5 minutes of a sick girl saving the lives of people about to take their own lives
Asian Film Academy Alumni – Busan IFF, AFA screening 2011
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
Nomadic Childhoods (2014) by Christopher Boula – Assistant Director
Drama Feature film 94 min – At major cross-roads in their lives, three nomad children in Tibet, Mongolia, and Siberia carry their dreams into a hostile world and are confronted by love, danger and death
Pigments Films – Sesama Production – In competition at Warsaw Film Festival and Montréal World Film Festival
PRODUCER
Polluters of the Earth (2015) by Serhat Cat – Line Producer
Documentary 30’ HD – On illegal activity in the Nalaikh coal mine, “the darkest place on earth”
Turkey – NCSA Media
*Selections: Asian Film Academy 2011; Berlinale Talents 2011; Talents Tokyo 2012
