Prakash Jha key note speaker

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Dec. 9: The 20th edition of Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival (KIMFF) kicked off at the City Hall and Nepal Tourism Board from Thursday with the screening of ‘Bagh ko Bangara (The Tiger’s Jaw)’.

 Famous Bollywood actor, director and producer Prakash Jha inaugurated the five-day festival at the City Hall this afternoon. 

Over 60 films from 30 different countries will be screened at Kimff this year. They include feature documentaries, fiction, shorts and experimental films and animation. 

Jha is a keynote speaker of this festival. 

 ‘Bagh ko Bangara (The Tiger’s Jaw)’,  is a story of honey hunters from Jajarkot in  Karnali Province. 

In a short interview at the festival, Prakash Jha said that he has two basic reasons for making a film. “First, we have a passion for telling great stories. And the second is that it has great commercial value and helps films earn more money,” Jha said. 

  Stating that filmmakers have to put their soul into making a movie, Jha said that the actors now take the movie as a project and the filmmakers have to make the movie according to the artistes’ favourable time. 

According to Jha, it takes about five years for him to make a film, and he works on a script, making at least 10 drafts because it takes more time him to understand the characters 

of the film. 

He said that the socio-political development, unity and diversity of the people in the Himalayas and Terai, history and mythology can be great subjects for making movies in Nepal. He said that he would be happy to help Nepali filmmakers develop their story.

The festival will conclude on December 12 with a special screening of ‘Fly From Everest’, a film on an Australian paraglider’s attempt to fly off Mt. Everest to help raise funds to eradicate polio. 

Kathmandu has been continuously hosting Kimff since 2000, focusing on mountain communities and cultures.

On the first day of the festival seven films—Baghko Bangara, Through the Singing Villages, Doo Sar. A Karakoram Ski Expedition Film, Matto Ki Saikil, The Traverse, Sauerdogs and Blood For Horses were screened.