9th edition of NIFF from April 2

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Jan. 17: The 9th edition of the Nepal International Film Festival (NIFF), organised by the Nepal Film and Cultural Academy, will be held from April 2 to 6.

According to the organisers, 88 films from 40 countries will be screened over the five-day festival. The selected line-up includes feature films, short films, documentaries and AI-generated films, many of which have been showcased and awarded at renowned international festivals such as Cannes, Berlin, Venice, Tribeca, Locarno, Busan, Shanghai and Goa.

Held under the slogan ‘Celebrating Narratives from Around the World’, this year’s festival places special emphasis on youth-oriented cinema. NIFF Chairperson K.P. Pathak said the selection was made with young audiences in mind and includes activities such as AI filmmaking workshops to encourage emerging filmmakers.

“Making NIFF more youth-friendly is our priority. Through cinema and interactive sessions, we want to inspire young audiences and creators,” said Pathak.

This year, the festival received over 800 submissions from more than 80 countries. NIFF had originally been scheduled to begin on March 5, 2026, but was postponed by a month due to recent Gen Z protests and the announcement of general elections in March.

NIFF will present awards in three categories: International Competition, National Competition and a Special Federation Award judged by the International Federation of Film Societies (IFFS). 

Major international awards include the Gautama Buddha Award for Best Narrative Feature Film, carrying a cash prize of USD 1,500, the Mt Everest Award for Best Documentary, worth USD 1,000, and the Manjushree Award for Best AI Film, with a prize of USD 500.

National awards will honour outstanding Nepali films and filmmakers, with the Best National Feature Film receiving Rs 100,000.

Likewise, the Don Quixote Award will be presented by the IFFS along with a commemorative certificate.