The seventeenth edition of Nepal’s premier mountain film festival, Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival (KIMFF), is scheduled to open on Wednesday, December 11, at Rastriya Sabha Griha (City Hall).

Co-hosted by the Kathmandu Metropolitan City, this edition of the fest will feature around 63 films from 29 countries under three categories—competitive (17), non-competitive (32) and Nepali Panorama (14). The organisers say that this year the festival has included diverse voices and stories under the festival tagline ‘Voices from the Margins’.

“We hope the festival through its line-up of films and events will entertain audiences and engage them in conversations around issues that affect the Nepali public,” says KIMFF Chair Basanta Thapa.

“KIMFF’s objective has always been to use cinema and other visual art forms and discussion forums to inform and educate the Nepali public on pertinent issues. This year we aim to do the same,” continues Thapa.

The festival was started in 2000 to explore the diversity and complexity between the mountains and the people. “Until 2006, we hosted the festival every two years. But since then the festival has become an annual event and has grown into a world-class film festival that presents quality films and exposes local audiences to current trends in global independent cinema,” adds festival director Ramyata Limbu.

She adds that KIMFF recognises film as a powerful medium for sharing ideas and inspiring positive change in the world. “We have nurtured a generation of filmmakers exploring and documenting a broad range of social issues,” she says.

The event, to mark Sir Edmund Hillary’s 100th birthday, will kick-start with the screening of The Ascent to Everest where Hillary relives unknown details of his historic feat. In the film, Hillary also talks about Tenzing Norgay and their relationship.

Movie enthusiasts can also look forward to films like Alem Dos Sonhos (Beyond Dreams), which tells the life story of Roman Romancini, a Brazilian mountaineer who summited Everest after surviving a near-fatal accident and cancer.

Another movie that will appeal to movie enthusiasts is Journey to the Centre of the Heart, which tells the story of nine foreigners who migrated to Nepal and the challenges and triumphs these unlikely migrants faced in Nepal.

Organisers also added that this year’s festival will present a special section of films from Switzerland that reflect similarities between the two countries despite differences in language and culture.

On the Nepali front, Mingma Nuru Sherpa. Going West and I am Belmaya are movies that the audience should consider watching. Mingma Nuru Sherpa. Going West takes us into the life of a modern Sherpa. I am Belmaya, on the other hand, tells the story of a girl who, against all odds, makes a film—Educate Our Daughters. Apart from that, Pahichan tells the story of Rukshana Kapali, a 19-year-old Nepali transwoman and her struggles to establish her identity in a country like Nepal.

Another Nepali movie that is bound to spark conversation is The Colourless Butterfly, which talks about the kamalari system (a bonded slavery system prevalent in far-western Nepal). The movie tells the story of a teenage slave girl’s escape from her master’s house in search of her parents.

Accomplished filmmaker, photographer and climber Phil Coates (from the UK), TV and film director Lee Jae-Kyoo (from South Korea), vice-director of the Mountain Film Meeting and festival director Gabriela Kühn (from Poland) and performance artist Ashmina Ranjit (from Nepal) are in the jury for this year’s edition.

“We try to involve everyone from the field of mountaineering, art and cinema. This year we have a good range, like always. Phil has made multiple documentaries for the BBC, ITV and other channels working in some of the most challenging environments. Lee is someone who specialises in historical and cultural drama. Gabriela has previously served as the vice president of the International Alliance for Mountain Film, which comprises 26 festivals from 20 countries and five continents. We believe that the three together with Ashmina, who has proved herself as a conceptual artist here in Nepal, are the perfect fit to be the jury this year,” shares Limbu.

The opening day will also feature an interactive storytelling session about snow leopard conservation where WWF Nepal Country Representative Dr Ghana S Gurung, Research Officer Samundra Subba, and Senior Research Officer Sheren Shrestha will speak.

The last day of the festival will feature a class on adventure filmmaking by Michael Dillion, a pioneering adventure cinematographer. The session will be facilitated by Jolyon Hoff, director and producer at Light Sound Art Film.

“There’s definitely a lot to work on the documentary front here in Nepal, as only people with interests have been making them. The film schools in Nepal do not focus on documentary making which is why we at KIMFF are trying to help these enthusiastic documentary makers sharpen their skills by having international filmmakers and documentary makers share their experiences with them,” adds Limbu.

This year, KIMFF and Open Society Foundations will also be organising the ‘Paribartit Nepal’, a short film competition for young Nepali filmmakers, where the three best shorts will receive Rs40,000, Rs30,000, and Rs20,000 respectively.

KIMFF Nepal Panorama will also showcase 14 exciting films by local talent where the top three will be awarded Rs200,000, Rs150,000 and Rs100,000 respectively.

The last award that will be given out is the Audience Award where the audience will vote for their favourite film. All films at KIMFF are eligible for this award where the winner will get Rs75,000.

KIMFF is taking place at Rastriya Sabha Griha from Dec 11-15.

You can find the schedule here.