Kathmandu Launches First Film Festival With Azmi, Müller — SkimNews
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- Kathmandu Metropolitan City launched the inaugural Kathmandu Film Festival (KFF) from Oct. 30–Nov. 1, screening 40 films from 14 countries across multiple programs including international and Nepali shorts.
- Shabana Azmi and Marco Müller are featured guests at KFF, joining filmmakers and artists from across Asia for the three-day event in Nepal’s capital.
- KFF organizers curated a retrospective of restored Nepali films from the 1970s and 1980s, including 'Kumari,' recognized as the country’s first color feature.
- Yamagata, Japan—a UNESCO Creative City of Film like Kathmandu—is spotlighted in a dedicated shorts program, timed to mark the 70th anniversary of Nepal-Japan diplomatic relations.
- Ramyata Limbu, KFF’s artistic director, stated the International Panorama showcases contemporary independent cinema with powerful stories and distinct cultural perspectives, while Nepal Panorama Shorts highlight emerging local talent.
- Sunita Dangol, Kathmandu’s acting mayor, emphasized the festival’s role in public healing and connection, noting stories help people make sense of national tragedies like recent floods.
Why it matters: The festival establishes Kathmandu as a cultural hub for independent cinema in South Asia, leveraging its UNESCO designation and diplomatic ties—particularly with Japan—to boost local artists and public resilience, with free access ensuring broad civic engagement in post-disaster recovery.
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