Arjun’s journey from photography to cinema

BY A STAFF REPORTER,Kathmandu, Sept. 25: Arjun Karki joined the film industry after spending years in photography. His first major project was Loot, in which he did the role of supervising and managing the film. This experience paved the way for his involvement in Kabaddi, where he stepped into the role of producer for the first time. Since then, he has had the privilege of producing every film in the 

Kabaddi series. 

Over the years, he also produced several other notable films, including The Contagious Apparitions of Dambarey Dendrite (Short), Pashupati Prasad, Purano Dunga, Ghampani, and Mr. Jholay. Among these, both Kabaddi and Pashupati Prasad were honoured with the National Award for Best Film.

To showcase emerging filmmakers, Arjun and his colleagues launched the PAME Film Festival in Pokhara, which has already completed eight years. Submissions are currently open for this year’s edition, and the festival will run from December 27. 

As the Festival Director, Arjun takes pride in curating an event that champions new voices in cinema. He said, “We are thrilled to collaborate with The British Council Nepal and Taskovski Films Ltd., offering an exciting professional development opportunity for filmmakers. A highlight of this initiative is the Gender Film Coproduction Grant Programme, aimed at empowering women’s voices and agency in the film industry. The PAME Film Festival also features a Story Pitch Section, where aspiring filmmakers can present their stories, receive guidance in finding the right producer and even have their projects selected for production. Additionally, in partnership with the Film Development Board, we conduct filmmaking workshops to nurture and develop new talent. “

Arjun proudly identifies himself as a filmmaker, passionate about investing skills and creativity in crafting compelling stories. Beyond producing, he has been deeply involved in various aspects of filmmaking. He is expertise in editing, and colour grading earned him a nomination for Best Editor and Colourist at the 10th NEFTA Awards, where he was honoured with the Best Colourist award and also nominated again in the 11th NEFTA Awards for the same category.