14th Nepal Africa International Film Festival: Anjila and The Monkey Named Best

Actor Neer Shah and actress Surakshya Panta have been declared best actor and actress. Organized jointly by the College of Mass Communication and Bilakshan Creation in collaboration with the Film Development Board, Shah and Panta received the awards under the Nepal Panorama category for the films 'Paran' and 'Koshedhunga' respectively at the 14th Nepal Africa International Film Festival.

In the festival concluded Monday evening at the Film Development Board, a total of 26 awards were presented, including 20 categories under National Panorama and 6 under International Panorama. Films from 20 countries, including Nepal, participated in the festival, featuring 20 domestic and 23 foreign films including features, shorts, and documentaries.

Under the festival's Nepal Panorama, the film 'Anjila' won awards in 4 categories, including Best Film. From 'Anjila', Milan Chams won Best Director, Manju Shrestha won Best Supporting Actress, and Thaneshwor Gautam won Best Music Director for the song 'Raat Kina Huncha'.

Similarly, the film 'Koshedhunga' was given the Special Mention Award (Film), while from the same film, actor Aryan Sigdel won Best Supporting Actor and Manjil Kumar won Best Debut Actor. 

While 'Paran' received the Jury Award (Film), its director Dipak Prasad Acharya (Kaku) won the Best Debut Director award. In the festival, 'Koshedhunga' won awards in 4 categories and 'Paran' in 3 categories.

In the festival, Roshan Shrestha was given the Special Mention Award (Actor) for 'Yo Man Ta Mero Nepali Ho', while Sabin Subedi won the Best Playback Singer award for the song 'Tyo Mitho Joban' from the film 'Magne Raja'.

Under Indigenous Films, 'Naam Oti' won awards in 3 categories including Best Film. Dilip Furumbo won the Best Director award for this film, while Purna Bahadur Limbu received the Special Mention Award (Actor). The Best Actor award under Indigenous Films was won by Rudra Pahim for the film 'Semekwa'.

Likewise, in the short film category, Saugat Bista won the Best Film award for 'Bhuwa' and Gajit Bista won the Best Actor award for the same film. Prasanna Mali won the Best Student Film award for 'Anta Barta', while Bhim Lal Shrestha won the Best Documentary award for 'Arringal Man'.

The jury for Nepali and indigenous films, documentaries, and short films included Uday Subba, President of the Nepal Film Producers Association; Bhima Mainali, member of the Censor Board; Ram Raja Dahal, Principal of Oscar International College of Film Studies and film director; actress, producer, and director Roshni KC; and singer Sarita Bharati. During the ceremony, child artist Aprisa Bhushal for 'The Daughter' and Ramesh Khadka for 'Dancing in Fire' were given Honorable Mentions.

Under the festival's International Panorama, the Best African Film award was given to Egypt’s 'The Monkey', Best International Feature Film to Bangladesh’s 'Memories of Gloomy Monsoon', Best International Short Film to India’s 'Blue', Best International Documentary Film to Ukraine’s 'Not Scheduled or Fighting to Learn', Best International Female Film to Bangladesh’s 'Letter of the Fallen Leaves', and the Special Mention Award (Short Film) to Bangladesh’s 'No Dice'.

The international jury of the festival included filmmaker Supin Burman from Bangladesh, film director and producer Catherine Sophianes from South Africa, and film director and cinematographer Raju KC from Nepal.

The festival, which started last Friday, lasted for 4 days. The Film Development Board served as a co-organizer. Additionally, the Nepal Academy of Music and Drama and the Nepal Academy of Fine Arts collaborated this time.

In collaboration with the Nepal Academy of Fine Arts, a photo exhibition was held with the theme 'Cinema, Nature and Culture'. Festival Director Dabbu Chhetri informed that 16 paintings were exhibited, including a poster of the Nepali film 'Aama'.

Furthermore, film screenings were held at the Film Development Board hall, and a four-day dance training program was conducted in collaboration with the Nepal Academy of Music and Drama. In the program, 31 trainees were given dance training by Raju Shah, Subash Budhathoki, Gajit Bista, Gambhir Bista, Krishna Rasal, and Kabiraj Gahatraj. Certificates of training were also provided to the trainees during the event.

The closing ceremony, held under the chief hospitality of Dinesh DC, Chairman of the Film Development Board, saw a dense presence of professionals active in the national and international film industries.