Award-Winning Chinese films take center stage as Nepal-China Film Festival 2026 opens in Kathmandu

Kathmandu-The Nepal-China Film Festival 2026 officially commenced in Kathmandu on Tuesday, bringing a selection of award-winning Chinese films to Nepali audiences and reinforcing cultural ties between the two countries.

The three-day festival is being held at Chhaya Center Cinema in Thamel and is organized by the Nepal Film and Cultural Academy in collaboration with the China flim Administration and Beijing International Film Festival (BJIFF), supported by China Cultural Center in Nepal, Confucius Institude at Kathmandu University and Confucius Institude at Tribhuvan University.Six acclaimed Chinese films that were previously screened and honored at the Beijing International Film Festival are being showcased during the event. Organizers have announced that all screenings are open to the public free of charge.KP Pathak, the President of the Nepal Film and Cultural Foundation said the festival offers insights into Chinese society, culture, and development. Featuring acclaimed films across multiple genres, it includes works recognized by the Beijing International Film Festival’s Tiantan Awards. Organizers hope the event will deepen Nepali audiences’ understanding of contemporary Chinese cinema.Addressing the gathering, Zhou Pan, Minister Counselor and Deputy Chief of Mission at the Chinese Embassy in Nepal, said the Chinese Film Festival would serve as an important platform for strengthening cultural exchanges and fostering closer people-to-people ties between Nepal and China. He noted that cinema has the power to transcend borders, promote mutual understanding, and deepen friendship by offering audiences a glimpse into each other’s cultures, values, and ways of life.Veteran filmmaker and actor Tulsi Ghimire highlighted the importance of two-way cultural exchange, noting that while Chinese films being screened in Nepal is significant, Nepali films should also be promoted in China’s vast market.The festival will also feature interactions between visiting Chinese filmmakers and Nepali audiences. Organizers have invited both the Chinese community in Nepal and local film enthusiasts to attend the screenings and experience the richness of Chinese cinema.Organizers expressed confidence that the festival, regarded as an important platform for Nepal–China cultural exchange, will further strengthen friendship, mutual understanding, and people-to-people connections between the two nations.