Eight23 films

After honing his craft alongside veteran editor Peggy Davis on the acclaimed shorts Changing Shadow and Second Look, Anil returned to his roots in Nepal to create his first feature film, Ko Afno (“To Whom Do You Belong?”). Released in 2014, the film wove a poignant story of identity and belonging that resonated deeply with audiences and critics alike. It was honored as one of only three films shortlisted to represent Nepal at the 88th Academy Awards in the Best Foreign Language Film category. At Nepal’s prestigious NEFTA Awards in 2016, Ko Afno won Best Makeup and earned a Best Actress nomination — affirming its place as a milestone in contemporary Nepalese cinema.

Los Angeles–based Eight23 Films was founded by writer, producer, and director Anil Thapa to create independent feature films that bridge mainstream entertainment with art-house sensibilities. A longtime Los Angeles resident since 1988, Thapa traces his passion for storytelling back to his childhood in Kathmandu, Nepal, where he first discovered the power of cinema to shift perception and inspire change.

The Eight23' Film's upcoming feature, Eastern Rose, is a romantic drama set entirely in Los Angeles, written and directed by Thapa and slated to shoot in 2026. Eight23 Films is also developing A Perfect Plan, a contemporary Los Angeles–based crime thriller built around the chilling tagline: “You are the victim of your own mind.”