14th EU Film Festival in Pokhara from today

By Our Correspondent,Pokhara, Nov. 22: The 14th European Union Film Festival will be held in Pokhara on Saturday and Sunday. 

According to the organisers, preparations have been completed to celebrate the theme ‘Cinema without borders’ by bringing together renowned European filmmakers, BAFTA-nominated creators from the UK, and emerging Nepali talents on the same platform at QFX Trade Mall, where the festival will take place.

A total of 25 films will be screened at the festival. According to Vidya Maharjan, Press and Information Officer at the European Union Delegation to Nepal (EEAS), of them, 10 are European feature films, six BAFTA-selected short films, and nine are Nepali short films.

She said that these films present powerful stories that focus on human experiences such as identity, resistance, memory, hope, and transformation.

The festival will showcase outstanding films, including Portugal’s Banzo, Finland’s Je’vida, Austria’s Happy, Hungary’s Without Air, France/Italy’s The Girl from Tomorrow, as well as exceptional films from the Netherlands, Ireland, Poland, Switzerland, and Romania.

From the UK, Wander to Wonder, Rock Paper Scissors, Mug’s Christmas, Milk, Adios, and Stomach Bug will be screened. Similarly, nine Nepali short films selected at local and national levels, A Bleak Home / Chisoghar, Abyss, Arkesta, Chandani, Eternal Kinship, Grandma’s Magic Comb, Silent Scars, The Kathmandu, and What Grows in Thari Maila’s Vegetable Garden will highlight Nepali storytelling and aesthetics, she added.

According to her, all screenings will be free of cost, and English subtitles will be available for all films.

Before the main festival, additional programmes will be organised to strengthen dialogue between industry, art, and learning.

On Saturday, a special panel discussion titled ‘What Should the Film Industry Do Now?’ will be held in collaboration with the British Council. Praveen Takki Karki

Speakers Gau Maya Gurung, Jasu Gurung, and Prawinn Takki Karki will share their experiences from working in the film industry, from local levels to international platforms. The session will be moderated by Sunir Pandey.