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

The post Nepal International Film Festival 2019 Kicks Off at Kathmandu! appeared first on Nepali Sansar.

Out of three initial submissions, Shivam Adhikari’s Nepali historical drama Panchayat secured its place as Nepal’s nomination at the international film festival– The Oscars.

Samten Bhutia’s war-drama Tandro and My Love Promise for Kathmandu were the other two proposed initially.

As a story revolving around or surrounding the mid ‘30s background, Panchayat features the story of the head of a village panchayat, who is proven guilty of the crime he commits.

“A majority of mainstream cinemas released commercially do not match the level of storytelling and technical finesse that we seek. We’ve selected Panchayat this year. It is definitely better than the other two submissions,” Chiranjivi Guragain, Secretary of the Foreign Language Oscars Selection Committee, said in a statement.

Chiranjivi raised a concern that only three films were announced for Oscars nominations despite the notice being public months prior to the selection process.

“Most of the producers are well aware that their films won’t make the final cut. But we have to choose one anyway,” Chiranjivi adds.

However, Chiranjivi is doubtful on whether Panchayat, though better than submissions, would feature in the top five in the competition.

He was little hopeful that the movie would at least make it through the second round.

To make it more effective, the producers of the move are currently working on technical improvements and sound design for the movie before submitting it to the competition.

Meanwhile, Director of the movie is confident about his product.

“Panchayat might be a story from Nepal, but the emotions it invokes are universal. I am sure that the judges will be moved by the story. And if that happens, we might just make history,” says Adhikari.

Sharing his thoughts about the movie, he went on to say that “the collective conscience of that period was seldom explored in cinema and would make a good story.”

Though there are many movies that performed well at the Nepali Box Office, Panchayat grabbed the rare opportunity of getting featured in Oscars.

Let’s hope Panchayat will perform its best to take the Nepali cinema and its reputation to the next stage at the international level through Oscars 2019. All the best Nepal!

The post Panchayat, Nepal’s Movie Nomination at Oscars 2019 appeared first on Nepali Sansar.