The Nepal International Film Festival (NIFF) begins on February 21, 2019, just days before the Nepal International Theatre Festival.

The International Film Festival will be held at the Nepali Tourism Board and Rastriya Sabha Griha.

According to Festival Chair KP Pathak, the film festival is being organized with an aim to ‘bridge the gap between alternative & mainstream cinema’ and celebrate cinema as a medium of intellectual expression.

What to Expect at the International Film Festival?

The five-day event will showcase 60 films, including 13 feature-length fiction films and the remaining are short films from 31 countries.

These shortlisted films have been selected by a jury headed by Nepali filmmaker and journalist Bijay Ratna Tuladhar.

NIFF first press conference on 17th Jan 2019, at Nepal Tourism Board (NTB)

The global event will also hold panel discussions on various issues, including ‘Challenges of the Nepali Film Industry’ and ‘Women in Cinema’ that will witness the participation of key industry stakeholders.

Eric Valli’s ‘masterclass’ is another important program that the audience can look forward to. Valli’s 1999 movie ‘Caravan’ is the only Nepali nomination for the Oscars, so far.

Event Format

Nepal Communist Party (NCP) Co-Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal will inaugurate the Nepal International Film Festival.

Post the inauguration, 2018 critically-acclaimed Nepali movie ‘Hari’ will be screened at the festival.

Note to Attendees: The international film festival will feature Nepal premiers along with a number of already featured films that didn’t receive the deserving audience earlier.

This list also includes Panchayat, Nepal’s submission to the Oscars this year.

Here’s a list of Nepali films that will be featured at the Nepal International Film Festival:

Day 1 – February 21, 2019
Time: 5 PM
Venue: Rashtriya Sabha Griha

The first day of the festival features Nepali film ‘Hari‘. This movie was hugely appreciated by film reviewers due to its realistic appeal and a naturally-flowing narrative. Directors Pratik Gurung and Safal Gurung have done a fantastic job at putting together Hari’s story which is a combination of funny, tragic and fantastic.

Day 2 – February 22, 2019
Time: 12 PM
Venue: Rashtriya Sabha Griha

Panchayat did not get the attention it deserved when it released in March 2018. However, the film was brought back to the limelight after getting finalized as Nepal’s official submission for the upcoming Academy Awards.

It revolves around Nepal’s Panchayath era and is a tale of abuse and clash of egos.

Day 3 – February 23, 2019
Time: 2:45 PM
Venue: Rastriya Sabha Griha

Not by a Nepali director, this film is a creative work of Latvian filmmaker Andzej Gavriss. 1190 presents the story of a young women on journey to find her lost home and identity.

Garviss is known for his style in experimental filmmaking. “Gavriss’ distinctly stylized portfolio combines beautifully crafted shots with storytelling that packs a punch,” reads a review.

Day 4 – February 24, 2019
Time: 4 PM
Venue: Rastriya Sabha Griha

‘Highway 318‘ is a story directed by Chinese director Yunxing Nie. The film features the journey of two individuals from China and Tibet. As the story unfolds, viewers are treated to the picturesque views along Highway 318 that connects China and Tibet. Make the most of this film that showcases the journey of two individuals towards redemption from their past.

Day 5 – February 25, 2019
Time: 10 AM
Venue: Nepal Tourism Board

‘Green Cats‘, a crime drama directed by Estonian film director Andres Puustusmaa revolves around two old men who have spent their entire lives in jail and are released on amnesty at the age of 70 years. The film lays bare their struggles with prison life, their freedom and the pain of the loss of time.

So Nepal movie fans, where are you headed to? Hope you enjoy your time at the international film festival. Let us know what you think about the festival and what you liked aspect did you like most of it!

Nepal International Film Festival 2019 Official Schedule

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The Nepali Film Industry is famous with the name ‘Kollywood’, inspired by capital city Kathmandu and is greatly influenced by Bollywood’s themes.

Nepal’s film journey began with ‘Aama’, which was released in 1964. Nepal King Mahendra had invited Bollywood Producer Hira Singh Khatri to produce the film.

Over the last 50-70 years, Nepali cinema has tried to present a critical view on the various issues faced by the country and portrays the rich culture of the Himalayan nation.

Top Nepal Movies of 2018:

This year 2075 B.S. started on a promising note with the Nepali audience craving for best Nepali movies like Damaru ko Dandibiyo, Sunkesari, Dipendra Sarkar, Jhamak Bahadur and Laure. The movies had a lot to offer going by their trailers and the buzz surrounding them.

5 Must-Watch Nepali Movies of 2018

1) Damaru ko Dandibiyo: Damaru ko Dandibiyo, Gulli Danda in Hindi starred Khagendra Lamichhane and Arun Baral in the leads. The plot revolves around Damaru, a boy who comes back to the village to revive the game Dandibiyo while struggling to convince his father. Going by the reviews, the movie did extremely well and was rated 9.2/10 stars.

Reviews by Audience:
“Damaruko Dandibiyo is a movie worth a watch and delivers a captivating and pleasing movie that keeps the audience engaged till the very end. In short: The movie is great. There are, however, few shortcomings of the movie, but the overall outcome came out brilliantly.” – Abiraj Tamang

“No complaints. everything is perfect. story, screenplay, dialogue, acting, cinematography and finally playback music (nepali baja) is awesome. Different kind of movie in Nepali industry. A must-watch movie.” – Sandeep Poudel

2) Hari: Hari played by versatile actor Bipin Karki, managed to steal people’s hearts with the narrative revolving an overly religious and superstitious 30-year old man. His life is governed by the rules given by his ancestors and his strict mother. However, all comes to an end when a bird poops on his head.

The movie was rated 9.2/10 stars and this what people had to say:

Reviews by Audience:
“Well, support this kind of cinema which are made in Nepal. Though, the movie isn’t perfect but it is good. Story telling style, cinematography, background music and acting by most of the actors were nice. Although the movie is just 1 hour and 46 minute long, still I felt that the movie was long just because of loose screenplay, I guess. Editing was good and director have done a decent job.”

One of the finest movie in terms of cinematic language and presentation ethics ..one of its kind.. Can we say Hari is the trendsetting movie in our Industry ??? Highly recommendable for Bipin Karki´s phenomenal acting and stylish presentation.. U will regret if u miss this gem of cinema!!! – Facebook Review

3) Sunkesari : No movie industry is complete without the ‘Horror Genre’ and Nepal film industry is no exception. Sunkesari sent shivers down viewers’ spines with a gripping trailer. One of Nepal’s most talented actresses Reecha Sharma did a comeback with this haunting tale. The movie directed by Arpan Thapa tells the tale of an old Australian palace that is transformed into a boutique hotel and the strange events surrounding it.

However, the film received mixed reviews and was rated an overall 5.2/10 stars

Reviews by Audience:
Good movie. One does get scare at some parts and gets bore at some other part. Emma and the Yadav character hold the audience throughout the movie. Go watch it without comparing with other Hollywood or Bollywood horror movies. Everyone has given their best. – Amrita Singh Tamang

Sunkesari, the most anticipated Nepali Horror Movie of 2075, does an attempt to add a new facade to the Nepali Movie Industry and it does not completely fail to do so. But it does not succeed with flying colors as well. We all have been well equipped with our imaginations and what to expect on a typical horror movie. From the Bollywood’s white sari ghost to the Hollywood’s contortionists, we’ve seen it all and we cannot expect more than that from Sunkesari. – Abiraj Tamang

4) Dipendra Sarkar: Dipendra Sarkar features award-winning actor Pradeep Khadka who plays Late Prince Dipendra Bir Bikram Shah and the mystery around Durbar Massacre. This intriguing tale of romance and mystery went well with the audience.

Besides the listed movies, stories like Bhaire and Black also created a lot of buzz among the new-age Nepali audience. The latter was cherished for its stunning locations, good music and good chemistry between actors

5) Laure: Laure presents the current day scenario of Nepali youth going abroad to make their careers and the struggles that they go through. The movie also depicts their addiction to drugs and alcohol. The movie features Naren Limbu and Shristi Shreshta in the lead roles.

While these movies created the buzz, Nepali films like Loot, Chhakka Panja 1 & 2, Kohinoor and Satru Ghate earned the ‘big bucks’. The movies made more than Rs 100 million!

Top 5 Best Nepali Movies 2017

Looking back at the year 2074 B.S., Nepali directors gave us some unforgettable movies like Loot 2. Let’s take a look at them:
Dhanapati: The movie hit Nepali screens on 7^th July 2017 with a heart-touching narrative of a husband and father who wants to fulfill the dreams of his family. Written by Director Dipendra K Khanal and the movie’s lead star Khagendra Lamichhane, the film clicked well with viewers.

Dui Rupaiya: The movie, packed with action, comedy and all things good was well-received by audience. With Nischal Basnet and Buddha Tamang in the leads, the story revolves around two low-life thugs Jureli and Bom Bong who are on a quest to find Rs. 2 which costs them a ‘cat and mouse’ chase with cops and their own bosses.

Loot 2: A sequel to acclaimed director/actor’s praise-worthy work ‘Loot’, Loot 2 is about the lives of four men. The story picks up from the robbery that happened in the prequel of the movie and includes seasoned-actors like Saugat Malla, Dayahang Rai and Bipin Karki

Jhyanakuti: The movie drew a never-ending flood of audience with its entertaining narrative. The story directed by Simosh Sunuwar talks about the lives of a troubled married-couple and their struggles.

Sanrakshan: The most controversial movie of 2017, Sanrakshan talks about the standing political issues and scandals with Saugat Malla and Nikhil Upreti as lead actors.

Top Nepali Actors:

1) Anmol KC – The 23-year old Nepali Star Anmol KC started out as a producer in the Nepali film industry at a young-age of 14 years. He shot to fame in a short while with movies like Hostel, Jerry and Gajalu to his credit. He is the highest paid actor in Nepal who received 20 lakhs for his movie Kri.

2) Salin Man Baniya – 24-year old charming Salin Man Baniya started his career with A Mero Hajur 2. Earlier, he was a modeler for the House of Fashion. His looks and charming smile make him one of the most sought-after actors in Nepal and is the reason for his large fan-following in a short while.

3) Pradeep Khadka – 26-year old Pradeep Khadka entered the industry with his first movie Escape. However, the movie was not received well by Nepali audience. His career picked up only after his hit movie Prem Geet. Currently, he juggles between acting & film-making and has his own media house.

4) Paul Shah – The 27-year old actor began his career with Nepal music videos. He made his entry into the Nepali film industry with Nai Nabhannu La in 2016. His acting was well-received by Nepali audiences and he also won the award for the Best Actor in the fourth edition of his debut film.

5) Gaurav Pahari – The 28-year old made a stunning entry with his hit movie Hostel. He has also acted in music videos, out of which Sailee is the audience’s favorite.

6) Salon Basnet – Salon Basnet made his debut alongside Anmol KC and Gaurav Pahari in Hostel. He instantly gained fame for his comic role in the movie. He has been in the industry since a very young age and has acted as a child actor in several Nepali movies. His latest movie A Mero Hajur 2 was received well by audience.

Some of the Most Experienced & Versatile Nepali Actors:

1) Dayahang Rai – 36-year old Dayahang Rai is a gifted figure with talents like acting, directing and play writing to his credit. He stole Nepali audiences heart with his performance in the box-office record-breaker Loot. He has also starred in the Oscar-nominated movie Talakjung Vs Tulke.

2) Nikhil Upreti – If Ajay Devgan is remembered for stunt and action-oriented movies in Bollywood, then Nikhil Upreti is the name of recall in Nepali movies. The 37-year old stepped foot in the industry with his debut Pinjada. Everyone had thought that his career had ended in 2012 but his return with blockbuster Bhairav in 2015 revived their hope.

3) Nischal Basnet – Nepal film industry is incomplete without this versatile actor, director, comedian, dancer, songwriter and singer. His career kicked-off with the movie Kabaddi and there has been no looking back since then. Dui Rupaiyan was one of his blockbusters.

4) Saugat Malla – 41-year old Saugat Malla is an acclaimed actor and producer. He began his film journey with Loot in 2008 as the lead actor. His film Soongava: Dance of the Orchids was submitted for the Oscars. Sadly, the movie was not nominated. He still remains as one of the most-sought actors in Nepali Cinema.

Individuals Who Define Nepali Cinema – Directors

“An actor is only a part of the film, not the whole, and very often, he is molded by the director. That is why a good director can make so much difference to a film.” – Anupam Kher, Indian Actor

Top four famous & renowned Nepali Directors

1) Hira Singh Khatri – Nepali Cinema will always credit Khatri for his contribution to the industry. He gave life to Nepal’s first film Aama which revolves around a young man who goes to war in a foreign country to earn money for his widowed mother. However, upon returning he finds that his mother has already passed away.

The film throws light on the departure of Nepali men to other countries, leaving their families behind. It teaches people to look after their motherland which relates to the young man’s mother in the movie.  What makes Khatri’s role special here is that he made the movie a grand success by making experienced singers perform roles in the movie.

2) Tulsi Ghimire – Ghimire was born in India and moved to Mumbai in 1974 to pursue film making. However, on the insistence of his mentor, he took up the task of making Nepali movies. He has made more than 21 Nepali movies till date including Chino, Darpan Chhaya, Kusume Rumal, Lahure, Balidaan and Desh which are some of the best Nepali movies ever. Tulsi Ghimire’s movies usually focus on political issues. He’s known for encouraging the Kollywood trend.

3) Neer Bikram Shah – Shah is related to the royal family and is a renowned actor, director, lyricist, poet and businessman. His film Basudev is one of the classic examples of Nepali cinema which fueled the picturization of stories based on social issues. In 2002, Shah was honored by the Nepal Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation for his promotion of Nepal art, culture and tourism. He is also the founder of Nepal’s first TV Channel and is considered as one of the most powerful media figures in the country.

4) Tsering Rhitar Sherpa – Sherpa is a unique director who creates stories with a personal perspective and which are highly contrasting to Nepali commercial movies. His first project Mukundo was released in 2000 and was the first independent Nepali film to gain international fame. Sherpa’s stories shed light on the otherwise superstitious Nepal.

Nepal’s Kollywood and its Progress:

With so many talented people working in and for the industry, Nepal cinema is yet to see many more remarkable movies. And with the recent announcement on Nepal Box Office system, we’re sure that country is making good progress in the field of film making.

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The event scheduled to take place on December 6, 2018 will witness the participation of filmmakers and film enthusiasts from South Asia.

According to Film Director Dinesh DC, the agenda of the conclave is to come up with solutions for challenges faced by South Asian film industries, starting from censorship to shooting.

Adding further, Dinesh highlighted that it takes several months before Nepali films can be screened in India. However, Bollywood films get the green light in Nepal even months before a film’s release.

“The conclave will focus on making the censorship process more efficient and effective, but that’s not all. When a foreign movie is to be filmed in Nepal, they travel with the help of travel agencies while when we travel to another country it’s a different story altogether, and the journey is perhaps more challenging,” says DC.

Additionally, this convention will also explore the possibility of developing the ‘one-door policy’ in the South Asian region.

The decision of hosting the event in Nepal comes as a result of PM Oli’s proposal for the same during his recent visit to India.

Dinesh informs that a group of ‘biggies’ from India like Chairman of Essel Group and Zee TV Network Subash Chandra and renowned Bollywood actress Jaya Prada visited Nepal to sign the deal with Nepal’s Prime Minister.

“Besides the conclave, Zee Cine Awards will also now take place in Nepal,” reveals Dinesh.

These prestigious events will be used as a medium to promote the country’s “Visit Nepal 2020” theme as the events are expected to have a star-studded guest arrival!

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Earlier, Dolakha was envisioned to host Nepal’s Film City, but the Prime Minister ruled out the possibility when he said that the district was not appropriate for the project owing to its unpredictable weather.

The prospect of setting up a Film City in Nepal has been in talks for more than a decade now, considering the primary agenda of luring Bollywood production houses and others to shoot films against the picturesque landscapes of Nepal.

Oli’s Declaration of Film City
In his address to the Gandaki Provincial Parliament, Prime Minister KP Oli announced the government’s plans of coming up with a Film city at the aforementioned destination.

Alongside this announcement, he also revealed that a team of Indian professionals led by Indian Director and Zee Cinema Chairperson Subhash Ghai will be coming to Nepal to gauge the possibility of constructing the said project in Pokhara.

The team will also be visiting locations around Tanahun and Gorkha.

“I have asked them to look for locations around here, I think the most viable space for a film city lies in the Gandaki province,” says Oli.

Adding further, he says, “If we can establish a film city, then within two years we could see visible change. From Mumbai, one can merely see seas, but from here, one can also see mountains and lakes. It’s not for nothing that Amitabh Bachchan came here to shoot his films.”

We hope that the new facility at Pokhara will further enhance the Lake City’s grandeur!

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Leading actress and professional model Keki Adhikari has announced her plans to produce the new Nepali movie ‘Kohalpur Express’ with her production house ‘Junkiri Arts’. The filming of the movie, which is being co-produced by Bhadra Bahadur Shahi, Shiva Prasad Chaulagain and Devi Lal Neupane, will commence next week.

The film features Keki Adhikari, Priyanka Karki and Richa Sharma in lead roles with a supporting cast comprising Buddhi Tamang, Binod Neupane, Rabindra Jha and Sujan Karki among others.

Keki, who made her acting debut with ‘Swar’ alongside Raj Ballav Koirala, has also starred in many popular films such as ‘Shree Paanch Ambare’, ‘Fanko’, ‘How Funny’, ‘Bhaag Sani Bhaag’, ‘I Am Sorry’, ‘Mero Best Friend’ and ‘Ghampani’.

Debutant director Bishal Bhandari will helm the movie which revolves around the struggles of three women in their life journey and how their destinies intertwine.

The story of ‘Kohalpur Express’ has been written by Saan Basnet, while Arjun Tiwari will handle the cinematography.

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