Azzaya Munkhbat

Biography: Azzaya Munkhbat is a Mongolian film director and actress, who studied Film Directing at the Mongolian National Film School. She is a member of the Hollywood Professional Association. She is well-known for her lead role in an award-winning short film "Mountain Cat". “Mountain Cat” was officially nominated for the ‘Palme d’Or – Best Short Film’ category at the Cannes Film Festival in 2020. The film also got nominated for numerous prestigious film festivals including Sundance Film Festival’s ‘Short Film Grand Prize’ category, Toronto International Film Festival’s ‘Short Cuts Award’, London Film Festival’s ‘Short Film Award’ and Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival’s ‘Shorts and Animation Competition’ categories in 2020. “Mountain Cat” won the ‘Best Short Film’ award at the Busan International Film Festival in 2020. Some of her directing credits include 20 episodes of VOO Original mini-series “Search”, “Return” short film - which won the ‘Best Short Film’ awards at the Mongolian Academy Awards in 2016 and “No Tears” short film - which won ‘Third Place’ at the “Double Check” short film contest organized by the Embassy of Canada to Mongolia and Lantuun Dohio NGO. In 2019, she worked as the program manager at the “Hollywood In Mongolia” 1st International Film Artists Festival under the auspices of the President of Mongolia and published a magazine called “Mongolian Cinema” as part of the festival. In 2021, she directed and co-wrote the short animation "Shadow" in association with the Hollywood Professional Association.