14th Edition of 'Nepal Africa International Film Festival' Begins

Kathmandu. The 14th edition of the 'Nepal Africa International Film Festival 2026' began on Friday at the premises of the Film Development Board in Chabahil, Kathmandu. 

The festival was jointly inaugurated on Friday by the Board's Chairman Dinesh DC and the Chancellor of the Nepal Academy of Fine Arts, Narad Mani Hartamchhali. The festival is organized by the College of Journalism and Mass Communication and Bilakshan Creation, in collaboration with the Film Development Board.

Festival Director Dabbu Chhetri informed during the opening ceremony that the festival will continue at the Film Development Board until January 19 (5th of Magh) with various programs. Director Chhetri stated that 43 films from 20 countries, including Nepal, will be screened at the festival. 

According to him, along with film screenings, the festival will feature interaction programs, dance workshops, art exhibitions, and masterclasses. Ten foreign filmmakers are participating in the festival.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Film Development Board Chairman Dinesh DC said that this festival has been connecting various countries, including those in Africa, through cinema. Informing that the board has been providing various skill-based training, Chairman DC expressed that it is a positive development to have a film dance workshop organized this time in collaboration with the Nepal Africa International Film Festival. Wishing for the success of the festival, he remarked that such events greatly contribute to the development and expansion of cinema.

Chancellor Hartamchhali, while addressing the ceremony, stated that the festival has created an opportunity for knowledge exchange among artists worldwide. On behalf of the Academy of Fine Arts, Chancellor Hartamchhali participated in the painting exhibition titled 'Film, Culture, and Nature' organized at the festival venue and briefed the attending filmmakers about it.

At the opening ceremony, film exhibitor and Chairman of the Nepal Motion Picture Association (Kathmandu Valley), Durga Lal Pradhan, was honored with the Filmmaker Silver Honor, while dance choreographer Sandeep Bhujel was also felicitated.

The film 'Paran' was screened on Friday during the opening ceremony. The Bangladeshi feature film 'Memory of Gloomy Monsoon' was also shown on Friday. The festival, which continues until Monday, features 20 long and short films from Nepal. Among the Nepali feature films are 'Anjila' directed by Milan Chams, 'Koshedhunga' directed by Saroj Paudel, 'Magne Raja' directed by Rishi Lamichhane, 'Paran' directed by Deepak Prasad Acharya, and 'Yo Man Ta Mero Nepali Ho' directed by Nar Pradhan.

Similarly, in the documentary category, 'Aringal Man' directed by Bhimlal Shrestha, 'Dancing in Fire' directed by Ramesh Khadka, and 'A Body Not Mind' directed by Nisha Manandhar have been selected. Additionally, there are three indigenous films, four student films, and five short films.

From the international side, there are 23 films from 19 countries. Under the international feature film category, Bangladesh's 'Memory of Gloomy Monsoon' and Cote d'Ivoire's 'Silence Mortel' are in competition.

In the documentary category, Ukraine's 'The Schedule of Fighting to Learn', Estonia's 'Artist of Survival', and Germany's 'Girls Don't Play Sports' have been selected. Regular film screenings and masterclasses are scheduled for Saturday from 9:30 AM to 7:30 PM.