Kathmandu Film Festival puts Nepali cinema’s past, present and future in focus

From celluloid filmmaking to digital productions that are putting Nepal on the world cinema map, the Nepali film industry has come a long way. Nepali films are winning awards in international film festivals. The number of films the industry is producing has risen drastically as well.

And so has the revenues these films generate. Where does the industry go from here? The three-day Kathmandu Film Festival saw discussions around this and other pertinent subjects.

Alongside screening new titles, from Nepal and around the world, and restored classics, the festival, which concluded on Sunday, brought together a diverse set of stakeholders to discuss the shifting landscape of Nepali cinema. The festival made room for both nostalgia—it screened such classics of Nepali cinema as ‘Ke Ghar Ke Dera’ (1985) and ‘Kumari’ (1977)—and curiosity about what lies ahead for the industry. The festival featured conversations and masterclasses that helped advance dialogues about filmmaking.