Veteran Indian actor Shabana Azmi will join international film critic and historian Marco Müller at the inaugural Kathmandu Film Festival (KFF), bringing prominent cinema figures to Nepal for its first edition from 30 October to 1 November.
According to Variety, Kathmandu Metropolitan City has launched the three-day festival to showcase Nepali and international independent cinema and strengthen cultural ties. The programme will screen 40 films from 14 countries through several sections, including the International Panorama, Nepal Panorama Shorts, restored Nepali features and open-air screenings. Filmmakers and artists from across Asia are also expected to attend.
Among the international selections are Marine Atlan’s Cannes-premiered La Gradiva and Shahrbanoo Sadat’s No Good Men, which made its debut at the Berlin International Film Festival this year.
“The International Panorama is a curated showcase of global, contemporary and independent cinema that represents powerful stories, unique voices and distinct cultural perspectives,” said KFF artistic director Ramyata Limbu. “The Nepal Panorama Shorts feature diverse and compelling stories about Nepal by emerging local talent.”
The festival will also revisit Nepal’s cinematic history with restored films from the 1970s and 1980s. The retrospective includes Kumari, recognised as the country’s first colour feature film.
A separate short-film programme will spotlight Yamagata, Japan, another UNESCO Creative City of Film. Organisers have linked the showcase to the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Nepal and Japan, with the aim of strengthening cultural ties between the two cities.
Screenings and activities will take place at several venues, including Basantapur, City Hall, the Nepal Tourism Board, Jai Nepal Cinema and Taragaon. The programme will extend beyond film screenings to include a heritage walk, masterclasses and conversations with filmmakers. Organisers will also present awards in the youth video challenge and Nepal Panorama sections. Screenings will be free, although some events will require advance booking.
Kathmandu’s acting mayor Sunita Dangol said the festival would reflect the city’s diverse cultural identity, shaped by communities from across Nepal.
“Kathmandu is not just the city of its indigenous communities, whose culture and heritage are at its heart. It is also a city shaped by people from every corner of Nepal,” Dangol said. “Over generations, communities from across the country have brought their traditions, languages, art, music and stories to Kathmandu. That coming together is what makes this city so vibrant and unique.”
Organisers hope to make KFF accessible to the general public by connecting Kathmandu’s heritage with contemporary cinema and the international film community.
Reflecting on Nepal’s recent experience of devastating floods, Dangol also highlighted the role of storytelling in helping communities recover.
“Nepal has been through a profound tragedy with the floods, and in moments like these, stories become even more important,” she said. “They help us make sense of what we have experienced, connect with one another, heal and find the courage to move forward.”
