👋 Hi! I'm Tserennadmid — call me Nadima

NADIMA
CHINBAT

storyteller from two worlds
🎬 Storyteller🔎 Researcher🌏 Cultural Advocate

I'm a senior at West High School in Torrance, California. I make documentary films about culture, identity and community — starting with my own Mongolian roots and the story of the morin khuur (horse fiddle).

Read my story →
🏆 Award-winning film
Official trailer · 1:53
Nadima smiling and giving peace signs Hey there! ✌️
nice to meet you!

About me

I was born in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, and moved to the United States when I was two. Much of my early life was about learning to hear and communicate with bilateral cochlear implants — which taught me patience, resilience and how to keep improving step by step.

I'm drawn to Cultural Anthropology, East Asian studies and film, because I want to understand how cultures evolve and share those stories in ways that help people feel seen, respected and connected.

🇲🇳 → 🇺🇸
Moved from Mongolia at age 2
3 🗣️
English, Mongolian & learning Korean
🎻
Teaching myself the horse fiddle
my creative work

Film

Nadima and the Spirit of the Horse Fiddle film poster

Nadima and the Spirit of the Horse Fiddle

⏱ 23 minutes✏️ Animated documentary🎥 Three Flames Pictures

My central creative project is a 23-minute animated documentary. I helped research Mongolian culture and the morin khuur, and interviewed a fiddle maker in Mongolia and a folklore expert to learn the legend behind the instrument. The film blends cultural history, personal narrative and visual storytelling.

I worked on it as director, co-producer, writer, actor, researcher and interviewer — and through it I kickstarted my mission to bring awareness to the cochlear implant and disability communities.

As an immigrant living between two cultures, filmmaking has helped me embrace differences — and encourage others to tell their stories with confidence.

Animated still: a girl and a winged horse under the moon

The legend comes to life

Animated still: winged horse flying

The spirit of the horse

Interview with an expert beside a ger illustration

Interviewing the experts

Musician playing the morin khuur

The morin khuur

Film still

Behind the story

festival love

Awards

Creating my first film helped me find my voice as a storyteller. Receiving these honors means more than a trophy — they reflect years of persistence, learning and growth.

🏆

Award Winner

San Diego International Kids' Film Festival
2026
❤️

Audience Choice Award — Youth Film

Awareness Film Festival
2026
🎬

Winner, Best Short Film

LA Feedback Film & Screenplay Festival
2026
0+

submissions many festivals receive — so even being selected was an honor.

Winning confirmed I'm on the right path and motivated me to keep building skills in research, interviewing, writing and directing.

The Audience Choice Award meant a lot — it showed people truly connected with the story, not just the visuals, but the message and the heart behind it.

Nadima holding his award with family on the red carpet

Red carpet day! 🏆

giving back

Volunteering

Community has played a big role in my growth, so I try to give back in ways that are practical and consistent.

01
🧑‍🤝‍🧑
Youth Leader · Every summer

John Tracy Center

Summer student and youth leader at camps for kids with hearing loss — mentoring younger kids, building community and keeping things fun (tie-dye, movie nights and laser tag!).

02
📿
Project Leader

100 Affirmation Bracelets

Led a youth team that hand-made and donated 100 beaded affirmation bracelets to preschoolers with hearing loss for Mental Health Awareness Month.

03
🌊
Volunteer · Yearly

Beach Cleanups

Cleaning up the beach each year with the East Meets West Parent Education Club — time in nature, serving my community and making new friends.

Nadima with a volunteer group

Better together 💚

Small actions, real encouragement.

These experiences taught me leadership, responsibility, and how small actions can create real encouragement for others.

resilience · identity · advocacy

Life Story

Challenges don't define me — they shape how I learn and how I relate to others. My identity is bigger than any one label.

The beginning

Born in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

I was born prematurely and spent months in the NICU. I was also born profoundly deaf.

Age 2

A new home in the USA

My family moved to the United States — and I started growing up between two cultures.

Early years

Learning to hear

After receiving bilateral cochlear implants, my early years were all about learning to hear, process sound and communicate. I learned to advocate for myself, stay calm under pressure and keep going even when progress took time.

Growing up

Finding my people

Summers at the John Tracy Center, baseball, taekwondo, art classes — and eventually becoming a mentor myself.

High school

Telling my story on screen

I made my first documentary about my life and the legend of the horse fiddle — and took it to festivals across California.

Young Nadima in a baseball uniform

Little slugger ⚾

Nadima rolling dough in a chef's outfit

Chef mode 👨‍🍳

Nadima in taekwondo gear

Taekwondo! 🥋

Nadima with family at graduation

Proud day 🎓

Playing ping pong

Ping pong rally 🏓

Nadima posing in a colorful room

Good vibes only ✌️