Kathmandu: The highly anticipated 8th Nepal International Film Festival (NIFF), a signature film festival of Nepal, will be held in Kathmandu from Wednesday, Chaitra 6, 2081, with the slogan ‘Nepal International Film Festival, celebrate stories from around the world’. As an ode to films from every country, NIFF has decided to celebrate ‘Russian Film Day’ this year.
“Celebrating the Russian movie industry in NIFF, three different films with three different slots – 12:00, 2:45 pm, and 5:00 pm, have been allocated at Chhaya Centre in Thamel, where movie enthusiasts can watch the films for free. This will be on a first come first serve basis as only limited seats are available,” said NIFF Chairperson, KP Pathak.
According to a press statement, NIFF will feature 87 films from 40 countries, providing audiences with a unique opportunity to explore a variety of cultures and narratives.
The film festival is set to take place from March 21-25 in Kathmandu, and will be hosted across different venues, including QFX Cinema locations (Civil Mall and Chayya Center) and the Nepal Tourism Board.
The 8th NIFF will facilitate discussions and workshops that address contemporary issues, bringing together domestic and international filmmakers, high-ranking politicians, and notable figures from various sectors of society, read the statement.
“All preparations for the festival have been completed. We promise an exciting lineup of films and engaging discussions, showcasing the vibrant world of cinema. This year, NIFF is introducing two new award categories: the Audience Choice Award and the AI Award, aimed at recognizing the evolving landscape of film-making. Several critically acclaimed films from prestigious festivals such as Cannes and Berlin will be screened, ensuring that audience members experience some of the most celebrated works in contemporary cinema,” added Pathak.
“Our diverse jury, hailing from countries including Spain, Iran, Pakistan, India, China, Bangladesh, and Nepal, underscores the commitment to honoring artistic excellence across different genres. Dr. Rwita Dutta and Ponnam Ravichandra from india, Jamal Shah from Pakistan, Prof. Liu Jiayin from China; Surakshya Panta, Rakshya Rana Singh, and Deependra Gauchan from Nepal; Karimi Azimi from Iran; Khandaker Sumon from Bangladesh; and Joan Marc Montiel Diaz from Spain,” he further stated.
The festival will feature both national and international sections, with awards presented for the best feature films, short films, and documentaries in each category. The Mount Everest Award, which includes a cash prize of USD 1,000 and a trophy, will be given to the best international documentary. Meanwhile, the best international short film will receive the Bagmati Award, accompanied by a cash prize of USD 500 and a trophy.
For the Artificial Intelligence category, the best film will be honored with the Manjushree Award, which also comes with a cash prize of USD 500 and a trophy.
In the Nepali competition section, the best feature film will be awarded a cash prize of Rs. 100,000 along with a trophy. The best short film and best documentary will each receive Rs. 50,000 and a trophy. Additionally, in the national short film category, the best director will also be recognized with a trophy. The Academy will present trophies to the best director, writer, cinematographer, actor, and actress within the feature film category of the national competition.
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