EU film festival from March 20

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Mar. 16: The 13th edition of the Nepal European Union Film Festival 2024 (NEUFF) is scheduled to begin on March 20 with the theme of celebrating ‘Fifty Years of EU-Nepal Relations: Celebrating Cultural Diversity.’

 This year’s festival is part of the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of EU-Nepal diplomatic relations.

 The festival is set to open at the CDC Cinemas, CTC Mall in Sundhara, Kathmandu, and will run until March 23. 

Organising a press meet at the EU office in Kathmandu on Friday, the EU delegation informed that actress Upsana Singh Thakuri has been chosen as the brand ambassador for this year’s festival. 

The festival will begin with the screening of the acclaimed film ‘The Banshees of Inisherin,’ directed by Martin McDonagh and Nepali film ‘Dhye Dreams,’ directed by Shanta Nepali.

A short film competition for young Nepali filmmakers was organised to select films for the festival. The director of the winning film along with another young director, who are yet to be selected by the EU Delegation to Nepal, will be travelling to Brussels in autumn to participate in a mirror festival of Nepali films.

 A total of 10 Nepali films were selected for the festival from a competitive field of entries from young filmmakers.

“I am happy to share the diverse culture, lifestyle and cinematic creativity of Europe with the Nepali audience in Kathmandu, Lumbini, Karnali and Sudurpashchim as we mark the 50 years of EU-Nepal diplomatic relations,” said Dr. Joelle HIVONNET, Deputy Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Nepal.

 A total of nine European films and 11 Nepali short films will be showcased during the festival. 

Following Kathmandu, the festival will travel to the Sudurpashchim province for screenings at the Far Western University hall on April 10 and 11, followed by Lumbini province on April 15 and Karnali Province on April 19 and 20. 

Additionally, the Delegation of the European Union to Nepal is organising a ‘Film Critics Competition,’ culminating in the presentation of the ‘Film Critics Award’ for the best critic. 

The winner of this competition will also have the opportunity to travel to Brussels in autumn to participate in the mirror festival of Nepali films.