Kathmandu — The first Kathmandu Film Festival officially began on Friday, bringing Nepali and international filmmakers, directors, artists and cinema professionals together for a three-day celebration of film, art and culture.
Organised by Kathmandu Metropolitan City, the festival runs from October 30 to November 1 and features film screenings, discussions, masterclasses, cultural activities and an awards programme.
The opening ceremony featured traditional cultural performances, including a Mahakali dance, welcoming guests while highlighting Kathmandu’s rich cultural heritage alongside the festival’s focus on cinema.
The festival has attracted prominent international figures from the film industry, including Indian actress Shabana Azmi, film scholar and Shanghai Film Academy professor Marco Müller, Japanese director Takayuki Nakamura and Indian film programmer Deepti D’Cunha.
The three-day programme features 40 films from 14 countries, including selections under the International Panorama and Nepal Panorama Shorts sections. Classic Nepali films such as Kumari and Ke Ghar Ke Dera are also included in the programme.
The festival is also providing a platform for emerging Nepali filmmakers. Ten films were selected for the Nepal Panorama Shorts section from 75 submissions, with each selected filmmaker receiving an incentive award of Rs. 100,000.
The festival aims to promote Kathmandu’s cultural identity through cinema while creating opportunities for interaction between Nepali and international film communities. Kathmandu has been a UNESCO Creative City of Film since 2023, adding an international dimension to the city’s growing film culture.
Further programmes will continue through the weekend, including discussions, masterclasses, film presentations and a closing red-carpet programme.
The festival is expected to strengthen Kathmandu’s position as a destination for film, art and cultural exchange while giving audiences an opportunity to experience cinema from Nepal and around the world.
