Kathmandu, November 1
For the past three days, Kathmandu’s heritage sites have remained remarkably lively, with traditional music and dance and scenes from Nepali and foreign films on screen. The capital also witnessed national and international artists gathering on the red carpet of the Kathmandu Film Festival.
The first-ever Kathmandu Film Festival, held in Kathmandu as a member of UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network for film, comes to a close today, Sunday.
Organised by the Kathmandu Metropolitan City, the festival has tried to connect cinema with the city’s art, culture and heritage, rather than keeping it confined to the screen. On the first day, cultural performances and a heritage walk created a festive mood in the heritage area of Basantapur. On the second day, the red carpet ceremony drew the most attention, along with a gathering of filmmakers and artists.
On the final day today, screenings of films from different countries and other festival events are continuing.
Opening at Basantapur
The festival began at Basantapur on Friday. The opening ceremony was combined with a traditional heritage walk and cultural performances.
After guests were welcomed at the Juddha statue area, they were taken to Basantapur Dabali. They were then shown the Kumari at Kumari Ghar. Various cultural performances were held at heritage sites around Narayan Temple, Maju Dega, Gaddi Baithak and Seto Bhairab.
Ganesh Charya, Ashtamatrika dance, traditional music and other cultural performances gave Basantapur a festive atmosphere. Performances by Kutumba, Nepal Police and the Armed Police Force were also highlights of the opening. Munasa Nepal gave a cultural performance, and the play “Hasana (Sandesh),” directed by Aarmaya Nakarmi, was also staged.
Those present at the opening included Kathmandu Metropolitan City acting mayor Sunita Dangol, Heritage and Tourism Committee coordinator Ashaman Sangat, and the head of UNESCO’s Kathmandu office, Jaco du Toit. Veteran Indian actress Shabana Azmi, Professor Marco Müller, and Nepali artists Madan Krishna Shrestha and Hari Bansha Acharya also attended.
At the opening, acting mayor Dangol said cinema should be developed as a means of introducing the city’s art, culture, language and heritage to the world. According to her, tall buildings and wide roads alone do not reflect a city’s prosperity. Protecting local language, art and creativity is equally necessary.
Professor Marco Müller said the festival, which began under youth leadership, could send a new message to the creative industries of South Asia and the world.
Actor Hari Bansha Acharya said Nepal’s natural, cultural and historical heritage holds great potential for film shooting. Actor Madan Krishna Shrestha described cinema as an effective medium for information and education, and recalled his 1986 meeting with Shabana Azmi.
Ayusha Shrestha, the festival’s creative director, said women’s leadership has been a distinctive feature of the festival.
Guests on the red carpet
The red carpet ceremony on the second day, Saturday, drew special attention. Even with heavy rain falling across the country, the festival’s glamour did not appear to fade.
First lady Sabina Kafle took part in the ceremony. Familiar faces from Nepali cinema and international filmmakers made the red carpet attractive.
Those seen on the red carpet included the comedy duo Madan Krishna Shrestha and Hari Bansha Acharya, actress Karishma Manandhar, filmmaker Binod Manandhar, actor Deepak Raj Giri, actresses Sharmila Malla and Keki Adhikari, and actors Neer Shah and Basundhara Bhusal.
International guests included Indian actress Shabana Azmi, Shanghai Film Academy professor and filmmaker Marco Müller, Japanese director Takayuki Nakamura, and Indian film programmer Deepti D’Cunha.
Alongside the red carpet ceremony, film screenings, interactions and discussions were held on the second day. A session with Shabana Azmi was held on the theme “Cinema, Festivals and a Meaningful Life.” Japanese director Nakamura shared his experience of Yamagata, Japan’s UNESCO film city.
Screenings and discussions under the Nepali Panorama, International Panorama and Short Film Video Challenge segments made the second day more meaningful.
Screenings of films from various countries are also scheduled today on the final day of the three-day festival. Nepali and foreign films are being shown at Jai Nepal Cinema and the Rastriya Sabha Griha.
At Jai Nepal Cinema, the schedule includes the South Korean film “The King’s Warden,” the Indian films “Not a Hero” and “No Good Men,” and the American film “The Godfather.” At the Rastriya Sabha Griha, a restored version of the old Nepali film “Kumari” and Nepali short films are being screened.
