Eighth edition of Nepal International Film Festival from March 20

By A Staff Reporter 

Kathmandu, Jan. 17: Nepal Film and Cultural Academy has announced the eighth edition of the Nepal International Film Festival (NIFF). The five-day festival will be held in Kathmandu from March 20-24. 

The festival also includes discussions on contemporary issues with local and international filmmakers as well as various masterclasses and workshops, the Academy said in a statement issued here on Wednesday. 

It said that 87 films from 40 countries have been selected from over 600 films received from 70 countries for the festival this year. Many of these selected films have already been screened at prestigious festivals like Busan, Cannes, Locarno and Berlinale.

The festival will be categorized into national and international sections, with awards being distributed to the best feature films, short films, and documentaries under both categories. 

The festival has also added competition for films related to AI (Artificial Intelligence) or made using AI technologies.

The films will be screened at the QFX Cinema venues at Civil Mall and Chhaya Centre.

“We have continued our collaboration with QFX Cinemas for this year as well. Various discussions and debates will be held under the banner of NIFF FORUM at Nepal Tourism Board and Rastriya Sabha Griha (City Hall), Bhrikutimandap, Kathmandu,” read the statement.  

Under the international competition, the best feature film will be awarded the Gautam Buddha Award along with a cash prize of USD 1,500 and NIFF Trophy. 

Similarly, 12 international and four national feature films will be eligible for the prestigious IFFS Don Quixote Award from the International Federation of Film Societies (IFFS). 

The best international documentary will be awarded the Mount Everest Award with a cash prize of USD 1,000 and a trophy, and the best international short film will receive the Bagmati Award with a cash prize of USD 500 and a trophy. 

The best film in the Artificial Intelligence category will be awarded the Manjushree Award with a cash prize of USD 500 and a trophy.

In the Nepali competition section, the best feature film will receive a cash prize of Rs. 100,000 and a trophy, while the best short film and best documentary will receive Rs. 50,000 each with trophies. From the national short film category, the best director will receive a trophy.

According to the Academy, trophies will also be awarded to the best director, writer, cinematographer, actor, and actress in the feature film category of the national competition.