The inaugural film festival attracted 300 people through the course of the day and was held on Saturday, February 13 at Innis Town Hall, University of Toronto.[break]
Bhedako Oon Jasto (In Search of a Song) and The Sari Soldiers were declared winners of the two Audience Choice Awards.
New York City-based filmmaker Julie Bridgham of The Sari Soldiers was in attendance and she had an engaging Q&A session with the audience.
The film screenings were followed by a musical concert featuring local musicians Astha Tamang-Maskey and Red Room.
The three-member jury consisting of Canadian documentary filmmaker June Chua, Kathmandu’s Nepali writer based in Toronto, Manjushree Thapa, and Toronto-based Nepali photographer Surendra Lawoti, who is also the curator of the festival, selected the festival’s program.
Festival curator Lawoti said, “Going through submissions of more than 40 films received, there’s certain urgency in the voice of these filmmakers, which reflect the current uncertainty and unstable affairs in Nepal. Despite difficult circumstances to make films in Nepal, the participating filmmakers boldly and passionately bring forth these timely narratives.”
“We at TNFF recognize that there’s a big void in supporting Nepali filmmaking both from the governmental and non-governmental agencies. It’s our hope that by organizing this annual film festival, we can play a role in filling the void,” he concluded.
The program consisted of animation, fiction and documentary films. Bhedako Oon Jasto (In Search of a Song), Daughters of Everest, Malaamee (Funeral), Nabarsiyeko Jhari (A Silent Monsoon), Return to Nepal, Sacrifice, The Sari Soldiers, Small Step, A Stove, A Blouse and a Gun, and We Corner People were screened at the festival.
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