Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival (kimff) launched into its 23rd edition on Wednesday, with the Nepal premiere of Tribeny Rai’s internationally acclaimed debut feature Shape of Momo.
“Spaces like kimff can become vital starting points in the journey of filmmakers like us,” said Director Tribeny Rai in her remarks.
Reflecting on her own experience, Rai also spoke on the courage it took to bring a deeply personal film like Shape of Momo to life.
The film’s screening set the tone for five days of cinema, critical conversations, and storytelling at kimff, while a ceremonial gong struck by Khadak Raj Paudel, Minister for Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, marked the official opening.
Minister Paudel further highlighted the importance of storytelling through cinema and celebrating the uniqueness of individual stories as an integral part of our culture.
This year, kimff has brought together over 50 films from 29 countries, featuring a vibrant mix of fiction, documentaries, shorts, and adventure cinema. Alongside global stories, the Nepal Panorama section puts the spotlight on local voices, highlighting the work of both emerging and established Nepali filmmakers. The festival runs at QFX Chhaya Centre in Thamel until 31 May.
“The films this year showcase diverse narratives about people, culture, and a rapidly changing world. We hope to inculcate creativity among film communities and foster sensitivity towards important stories,” said Festival Director Ramyata Limbu in her welcome address.
Abinash Bikram Shah, director of Elephants in the Fog, graced the ceremony with his speech reflecting on how his journey began decades back at kimff, and spoke about the importance of finding true meaning behind one’s images.
A live pitching session commenced before the opening, showcasing nine South Asian documentary projects developed under the second edition of Kathmandu Doc Lab.
The projects were mentored by filmmakers Anam Abbas (Pakistan-Canada), Arun Bhattarai (Bhutan), and Sarvnik Kaur (India) through an intense five-day residential incubator.
This year, the international jury is led Jury Head Deepti DCunha (international film programmer India), Chalida Uabumrungjit (Director of the Film Archive, Thailand), Kumar Nagarkoti (writer and poet, Nepal), Luca Bich (Director of Cervino CineMountain Festival, Italy).
The Nepal Panorama jury features Cultural & Communication Coordinator at Alliance Francaise Kathmandu Lucie De Barros (France), filmmaker Nabin Chauhan (Nepal) and film journalist and critic Reena Moktan (Nepal).
To mark 70 years of bilateral relations between Nepal and Switzerland, kimff will be organising ‘Alpine Alliances: New Wave of Nepali Cinema (Navigating World Cinema and audiences through Swiss partnerships), a conversation with award-winning Nepali filmmakers at prominent Swiss film labs and festivals.
The festival will also feature a special screening of Climbing for Life, by acclaimed Japanese director Sakamoto Junji, based on the life of Junko Tabei, the first woman to climb Everest, as a celebration of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Nepal.
