Sonam Choekyi Lama (Documentary Practice & Visual Journalism ’25) will premiere her feature-length documentary Snow Leopard Sisters at the AMC Lincoln Square Theater in New York as part of the Reel Wild NY Film Festival.
Snow Leopard Sisters tells the inspiring story of an unlikely yet powerful friendship between two Indigenous women in one of the most isolated corners of the Himalayas. The film follows local snow leopard conservationist Tshiring Lhamu Lama as she mentors 17-year-old Tenzin Bhuti Gurung, who is desperate to escape a forced marriage. Together, they journey through the treacherous yet breathtaking landscape of the Himalayas in search of the last remaining endangered snow leopards.
Through intimate verité footage and stunning cinematography, the film highlights the power of women’s voices in conservation, shaping a better future for themselves and the elusive snow leopards.
"After more than six years of working on this film with our team, this film has transformed my life and our communities in profound ways. To see it come alive on screen feels like a dream."
Lama is a documentarian from the remote high Mountains of Nepal Himalayas. Their earlier short film,The Snow Leopard Calling (2020) earned multiple international awards, including recognition from Jackson Wild and IWFF Montana.
Snow Leopard Sisters will be screening at AMC Lincoln Square 13, Theater #11, 1998 Broadway, New York on April 23, 2026 | 7:00–9:00 PM EDT.
“In a year of extraordinary filmmaking, this film struck the jury unanimously as the definitive choice for Best Feature and Best of Festival. The narrative cleverly weaves complex human struggles—gender, tradition, and poverty—with the urgency of conserving the snow leopards of Dolpo before they vanish.”
— International Wildlife Film Festival Jury
Sonam Choekyi Lama
