Preparations for NIFF conclude

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, April.1 : The preparations for the 9th edition of the Nepal International Film Festival (NIFF) have been completed.

 Organised by the Nepal Film and Cultural Academy (NFCA), the festival is scheduled to take place from April 2 to 6.

NIFF President KP Pathak said, “Immediately after the pre-event, we have entered the main event. Foreign guests have already started arriving.” 

He added that the special guest for the opening ceremony, renowned Bollywood director Ramesh Sippy, will arrive in Nepal on April 1.

Actress Kiran Juneja and Indian film producer of Nepali origin Neelkanth Regmi will also attend the festival.

The opening ceremony will be held at Civil Mall on April 2.

On the second day of NIFF, a dialogue programme titled Cinema Dialogue: With Ramesh Sippy and Rajesh Hamal is scheduled at the Tourism Board. 

The session will feature a conversation between director Sippy and legendary actor Rajesh Hamal, focusing on their personal experiences, cinematic journeys, and the future of film.

The festival will also include a five-day AI film workshop aimed at young filmmakers. In addition, a Feature Pitch programme has been arranged to connect writers directly with producers, allowing them to present their story ideas.

This edition will feature 88 films from 40 countries competing in the festival. Additionally, six Chinese and four Russian films will be screened outside the competition.

Russian Film Days will be organised at the Russian House, where films screened on other days can also be viewed free of charge.

A Xizang Panorama section has also been introduced, showcasing six Chinese films and documentaries. These screenings will be free of charge at the Tourism Board and Chhaya Centre.

However, films in the competition category will be screened for a fee at Civil Mall and Chhaya Centre.

In total, 10 interactive programmes have been arranged, where filmmakers from various countries will share their experiences and insights.