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KATHMANDU, May 24: The Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival (KIMFF) will hold its 22nd edition from May 28 to June 1. This year, organizers will host the festival at QFX Chhaya Center in Thamel, Astrek Park, and GAA Hall. Under the theme “Fragmented Voices, Connecting Stories,” KIMFF will screen over 65 films from 30 countries.
KIMFF brings internationally acclaimed films to Nepali audiences through its global selection. The festival also selects films made by local talents that depict contemporary Nepalese stories. Ramyata Limbu, Chairperson of the KIMFF Foundation, said, "Through this year's films and programs, we aim not only to entertain Nepali audiences but also to initiate dialogue on issues affecting Nepali society."
The festival will open by screening the documentary “Between the Mountain and the Sky,” premiering in Nepal for the first time. Director Jeremy Power Regimbal presents an intimate look at the personal life of Maggie Doyne, a social activist who won the CNN Hero award.
KIMFF 2017 through directors’ eyes
To celebrate the 70th anniversary of Nepal-China friendship, KIMFF will screen films at the Xijiang Panorama that highlight both the linguistic and cultural differences and the similarities between the two countries. This year, the jury panel includes Nepali film director Naveen Subba, Martin Hesenöhrl from Austria, Yiqin Chen from China, journalism and communication professor Chun Zhan, and film programmer Gina Lee from South Korea.
The jury will select the best narrative (from 4 shortlisted), best documentary (14 shortlisted), best short narrative (11 shortlisted), and best short film (13 shortlisted) in the international category. They will also choose the best documentary (6 shortlisted) and best narrative (11 shortlisted) from Nepali films.
The festival will award $1,500 for the best documentary, $1,000 for the best short film, $1,500 for the best narrative, $1,000 for the best short narrative, $1,000 for the best mountain and adventure film, and $1,000 for the best ICIMOD mountain film in the international category. In the Nepali film category, the jury will grant Rs 100,000 each to the best documentary, best narrative, and the audience's favourite film. This year, KIMFF will also award $1,000 to an emerging filmmaker.
In this edition, KIMFF will launch the Kathmandu Doc Lab workshop for the first time. The workshop, designed to showcase talent from the South Asian region, will run from May 24 to 28. Pakistani filmmaker Anam Abbas, Bhutanese director Arun Bhattarai, and Indian filmmaker Rintu Thomas will train nine selected South Asian participants. After gaining these skills, the participants will present their documentaries to audiences at KIMFF. The Nepal Film Development Board, KIMFF Foundation, and Nepal Film Initiative will award a total of $4,500 to the top three participants.
Additionally, female directors will present their short films through the "Cut Story" workshop, which Katha and the British Council jointly organize. The KIMFF Foundation will also host Nikon youth photography and filmmaking workshops during the festival. Alongside these, the Kala Salon in Thamel will hold a VR and photo exhibition. The festival prices tickets at Rs 150, offering students a discounted rate of Rs 100.
