The 9th edition of the Nepal International Film Festival (NIFF) will be held from April 2 to 6, 2026, the organisers said.

Organised by the Nepal Film and Cultural Academy with the aim of linking Nepali cinema to the global film market, the festival will feature 88 films from 40 countries over five days. The event continues with the slogan ‘Celebrating Narratives from Around the World’.

According to the organisers, this year’s selection places special emphasis on films that resonate with younger audiences. NIFF Chairperson KP Pathak said the festival has been designed to be more youth-friendly, with additional programmes such as workshops on AI filmmaking to encourage young creators.

“We have given priority to youth-focused films this time,” Pathak said. “Our main effort is to inspire young audiences through cinema and support emerging filmmakers.”

NIFF received more than 800 film submissions from over 80 countries, the highest number in the festival’s history. From these, 88 films were selected, including feature films, short films, documentaries and AI-generated films. Many of the selected titles have been screened at, or awarded by, major international festivals such as Cannes, Berlin, Venice, Tribeca, Shanghai, Locarno, Busan and Goa.

The festival had initially been scheduled to begin on March 5, 2026. However, the dates were postponed by one month due to the recent Gen-Z movement and the announcement of general elections in March. Pathak cited security and logistical challenges during the election period as key reasons for the postponement.

Alongside screenings, NIFF will present awards in international, national and special categories. International honours include the Gautama Buddha Award for Best Narrative Feature Film, carrying a cash prize of US$1,500, and the Mt Everest Award for Best Documentary Film. National awards will recognise outstanding Nepali films and filmmakers, with cash prizes of up to Rs100,000. The Don Quixote Award will be presented by the International Federation of Film Societies.

The organisers say the five-day festival will offer audiences a rare opportunity to engage with internationally acclaimed cinema while also discovering new voices from Nepal and beyond.