Film Festival to Showcase 85 Films from 39 Countries for Free

Kathmandu: The seventh edition of the 'Nepal Cultural International Film Festival (NCIFF)' is set to be organized by the Nepal Culture and Film Center. Scheduled to take place from Magh 16 to 18 at the Film Development Board in Chabahil, the Nepal Tourism Board in Bhrikutimandap, and the Nepal Police Club, the festival will screen 85 films from 39 countries.

Organizers state that this festival, which has been held continuously for the past seven years with the aim of promoting cultural, social, and creative films from around the world in Kathmandu, is establishing itself as one of Nepal’s prestigious international film events. This year, 138 films from 52 countries were initially selected from over 700 submissions received from more than 75 countries.

The festival features short films, feature films, documentaries, and animated films, along with movies based on women, children, human rights, and cultural themes. Santosh Subedi, the director and chairperson of the festival, mentioned that selected films range in duration from three minutes to two and a half hours. 

Co-director Sristi Neupane informed that while the opening ceremony will be held at the Film Development Board in Chabahil, the festival will include film screenings alongside cultural art exhibitions, dance performances, and interactions regarding art, culture, and tourism. Additionally, a masterclass on filmmaking will be conducted by Australian director Molinath Ganguly.

The international jury for the film festival includes producer-director Jessica Ackerson from the USA, producer Adriana Kulig from the UK, researcher Nini Sivellidze from Georgia, writer and director Valentina Galdi from Italy, director-producer Magdalena Korpas from the UK, director and physician Dr. Jorge Guillermo Caravotta from Argentina, director Noumen Noumen from Tunisia, and Imroz Hossain, founder of Scarlet Films in Latvia. 

The national jury comprises film writer, director, and actor Ramesh Budhathoki, actor Dhiren Shakya, actress and producer Deepashree Niraula, actor Aryan Sigdel, and producer and cinematographer Rabin Acharya.

Films have been selected from South Asian countries like India and Bangladesh, as well as East Asian nations including China, Thailand, Korea, Kazakhstan, UAE, Qatar, Hong Kong, Philippines, Indonesia, and Taiwan. 

Furthermore, films from the USA, Canada, Australia, Argentina, UK, France, Italy, Germany, Russia, Switzerland, Tunisia, Ukraine, Spain, Netherlands, Mexico, Finland, Lithuania, Chile, Norway, Brazil, Serbia, Portugal, Poland, Hungary, Greece, Denmark, Bulgaria, and the Czech Republic are included, alongside entries from South America and African nations like Morocco, Egypt, and South Africa.

The festival will feature competitions in categories such as best film, director, actor, actress, and cinematographer, as well as best short film, documentary, animated film, women's film, children's film, and human rights-related film. The chairperson noted that awards will be presented to the best films, artists, and technicians in various categories during the closing ceremony at the Nepal Police Club. 

This year, 30 outstanding films—15 national and 15 international—will be honored. Subedi also mentioned that special honors will be conferred upon individuals who have made significant contributions to the film sector.