The first edition of the Kathmandu Film Festival, organised by Kathmandu Metropolitan City, is currently underway in the capital city.

The three-day festival features 38 film screenings, which include both Nepali and international titles, panel discussions, masterclasses and cultural activities at several venues across Kathmandu.

The festival began on Friday with a heritage walk through Basantapur, bringing its celebration of cinema into the historic heart of Kathmandu. It was followed by the screening of ‘Chumpa: A Doll Under the Basket,’ a 20-minute Nepali film directed by Rajesh Prasad Khatri.

Kathmandu was designated a ‘Creative City of Film’ in 2023, making the city a part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network.

“This might probably be the only international film festival in the world led by an all-women directors’ team,” said Aayusha Shrestha, the festival’s curator and creative director.

Kathmandu Metropolitan City’s Acting Mayor Sunita Dangol has described the festival as a contemporary way of carrying forward Nepal’s cultural identity. “With a modern approach, we carry the same spirit of our culture through big-screen cinema and cultural films,” she said. “The Kathmandu Film Festival is a modern need for preserving and promoting the cultural identity of Nepal.”

Screenings are being held at Rastriya Sabha Griha and Jai Nepal Cinema. The Nepal Tourism Board is hosting conversations, masterclasses and panel discussions, while the closing programme is scheduled to take place at Taragaon Next Museum.

The selection brings together Nepali productions and international films from countries including India, China, Japan, France, Germany, Afghanistan, Korea and the United States. Nepali cinema also receives attention through restored screenings of ‘Kumari’ (1977), directed by Prem Bahadur Basnet, and ‘Ke Ghar Ke Dera’ (1985), directed by Pradip Rimal.

The event also featured a conversation between Indian actor Shabana Azmi and Nepali actor Swastima Khadka on Saturday. Other discussions will explore the role of film festivals in developing creative cities and the past, present and future of Nepal’s film industry.