Indonesian film 'Labinak' wins Best Feature Film

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Nov. 4: The first-ever Kathmandu Horror Film Festival (KHFF) concluded at the Russian House on Sunday evening.

‘Labinak,’ an Indonesian film, won Best Feature Film, while the Mexican film ‘A Year of Marriage’ bagged the Best Short Film award.

Likewise, Nuhash Humayun from Bangladesh became the Best Youth Filmmaker, while the Indian film ‘Bokshi’ received the Jury Special Award.

The three-day festival, which began on Friday, featured 25 films from 15 countries.

Organised by the Nepal Film and Cultural Academy, the festival showcased horror cinema as both an art form and a cultural expression.

The Vice President of the Academy, Shiv Puri, said that the purpose of using film as a medium is to connect culture, messages, and creativity. He also mentioned that this festival has opened the door toward achieving that goal.

The festival opened with ‘Shaman,’ a Russian film directed by Mikhail Merzlikin, which drew viewers into the mystical world of a Siberian village where the boundaries between spirits and humans blur. 

The opening ceremony was attended by diplomats, filmmakers, and cultural figures who lauded the initiative as a bold step for Nepali cinema.

Nepali films ‘Khel’ directed by Anurag Pradhan and Astha Shrestha and ‘Down by the Riverside’ directed by Anuska Anada were also showcased during the festival.

Over three days, KHFF screened more than a dozen films, attracting a diverse audience of local and international viewers.

 Organisers said the turnout was “beyond expectations,” with guests praising the festival’s professionalism and vibrant atmosphere.