NIFF from March 14

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Jan. 17: The official lineup for the 7th Nepal International Film Festival (NIFF) was announced amid a programme held in the capital on Tuesday.

Organising a press conference in Kathmandu on Tuesday, the Nepal Film and Cultural Academy announced that the festival will take place from March 14-18.

According to the organiser, a total of 88 films from 40 countries, selected from over 500 films representing 60 countries, will be featured in the festival this year. 

With the slogan ‘Celebrating narratives from around the world,’ the festival will showcase both national and international films.

Awards will be presented in categories such as feature films, short films, and documentaries, informed the organisers. 

KP Pathak, the chairman of the NIFF organising committee, said that the festival will present the ‘Gautam Buddha Award,’ of 1,500 US dollars to the best feature film in the international competition.

He further added that outstanding feature films, short films, and documentaries would be recognised under various categories. 

He expressed the challenge of narrowing down the selection from a multitude of quality films and mentioned that suggestions gathered during the festival would be submitted to the government through the Film Development Board.

During the press conference, Bhuwan KC, Chairman of the Nepal Film Development Board, shared his optimism about the exchange of experiences between the national and international film communities.

 He emphasised the board’s commitment to providing necessary support for the film festival. 

The organisers outlined additional activities planned for the festival, including workshops, interactions, and discussion programmes featuring the participation of experienced and renowned filmmakers.