Min Bahadur Bham to serve jury at Berlinale

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Jan. 30: Min Bahadur Bham, a critically acclaimed film director, has been selected as a member of the International Jury of the 76th Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale) 2026.

He is widely regarded as the first Nepali filmmaker to serve as a jury member at an A-list international film festival.

Reacting to the announcement through social media, Bham expressed deep gratitude and humility, calling the opportunity a profound honour. 

 He wrote, “To stand alongside a titan like Wim Wenders is an honour beyond my wildest dreams,” he said, adding that he accepts the responsibility with humility, mindful of the historic path paved by cinema icons such as Aamir Khan, who served as a Berlinale jury member in 2011.

Meanwhile, Film Development Board Chairman Dinesh DC congratulated Bham, describing his selection as a historic achievement for Nepali cinema and the country’s cultural identity. He said the recognition reflects the growing international presence and creative strength of Nepali films.

The Berlinale has announced that legendary German filmmaker Wim Wenders will preside as President of the International Jury for the 2026 edition. 

Other jury members include South Korean actress Bae Doona, Shivendra Singh Dungarpur (India), Reinaldo Marcus Green (USA), Hikari (Japan), Ewa Puszczyńska (Poland), and Nepal’s Min Bahadur Bham.

Shambhala, directed by Bham, was declared Best Film at last year’s National Film Awards. The film also had its world premiere in Berlin. 

The official website of Berlinale mentioned that Bham’s short film The Flute in 2012 was Nepal’s first at the Venice Film Festival. His debut, The Black Hen, in 2015 won the FEDEORA Best Film Award at Venice and was Nepal’s first Oscar entry. Bham’s second feature, Shambhala, in 2024 became the first Nepali film to compete for the Golden Bear at Berlinale, screened at Locarno’s Piazza Grande, won the Asia Pacific Screen Awards’ Cultural Diversity Award, and marked his second Oscar submission.