Himalayan Rim Regional Film Exhibition begins

By a Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Dec. 1 5: The Himalayan Rim Regional Film Exhibition began at Tribhuvan University on Sunday.

Held under the slogan ‘Civilizational Mutual Learning, Technological Innovation,’ the festival showcases animated film screenings, craft workshops, cultural creative displays, and cinematic dialogues.

The exhibition opened with an AI-produced promotional short film, followed by the screening of The Spirit of the Mountains, an AIGC (AI-Generated Content) full-process animated short film.

Drawing inspiration from the Chinese intangible cultural heritage technique of ‘Quanxing Tuo’ (full-form rubbing), the film demonstrated the unique synergy between artificial intelligence and traditional culture.

Following the screening, the film’s director, Pang Jia, joined via video link to demonstrate the AI scene-generation process in real time, while producer Junyan Huang engaged in an interactive session with the audience.

Speaking at the inaugural session, Head of the Central Department of Journalism and Mass Communication at Tribhuvan University, Dr Kundan Aryal, said the department is transitioning toward digital media in recent years and is planning to introduce a film studies course soon.

He added that such exhibitions are important for bridging the gap between the people of the two countries.

On the occasion, Nepali film actor Pradeep Khadka said Nepal seeks cooperation with the Chinese film industry. “The Himalayas are an open studio, and we have stories and emotions. Nepali films can be exported worldwide as digital products,” he said. Another actor, Buddhiman Tamang, remarked that Nepali cinema can take inspiration from the Chinese film industry.

In the afternoon, the animated film The Legend of Hei 2 continued to attract a large number of students. Using its unique dynamic storyboard pre-visualisation technology, the film vividly narrated a heart-warming story of harmonious coexistence between humans and “demons.”

The subsequent ‘Blind Box Interaction’ session brought the atmosphere to a climax, with students eagerly participating in quizzes and activities to win limited-edition film merchandise.

Organised by the 1905 Movie Network, the exhibition aims to boost China–Nepal cultural exchange and build a strong “digital bridge” for youth.

After Tribhuvan University, the exhibition will move to Kathmandu University and Lumbini Buddhist University. According to the organisers, the exhibition will conclude on December 21.