KATHMANDU

The 18th edition of the Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival (KIMFF) is scheduled to be held from December 10 to 14. This year's festival will be 'virtual', according to a statement issued by the organizers on Wednesday.

18 films from 15 countries have been selected for the festival. Apart from that, 12 films, including story and documentary will be screened under 'Nepal Panorama'. During the festival, a 'virtual' interaction and dialogue program with filmmakers and speakers will also be conducted.

Films screened at the festival can be viewed on Vimeo at www.kimff.org. International films depict mountain folk life, culture, environment, mountaineering and adventure activities. Once again, talented young Nepali filmmakers will be seen in Nepal Panorama.

Kimff's slogan for this year is ‘Tamasoma Jyotirgamaya' that translates in English as ‘Against Despair, Towards Hope’. The slogan reflects the goal of moving forward with hope and faith in the face of the current pandemic.

Kimff 2020 will be inaugurated with the screening of famous Bhutanese film director Khyenste Norbu Rinpoche's new film 'Looking for a Lady with Fangs and a Mustache'. The entire film was shot in Nepal. Rinpoche will also give a virtual speech on the occasion.

Separate dialogues between young Nepali filmmakers about documentary and fiction films have also been included. A Nepali translation of the book 'Nepali Music Makers' by the late Peter J Karthak, published by Himal Kitab, will also be launched, read the press statement.

The three-member jury includes American documentary filmmaker Julie Bridgham, Swiss journalist and filmmaker Lisa Rusley and Nepali writer Nayan Raj Pandey. The jury will select the best three films from the international section and the best story (fiction) and best documentary films from the Nepal Panorama section.

In the international section, there will be competition between 18 films from 15 countries and 12 films from Nepal Panorama. The top three prizes include Rs 200,000, Rs 150,000, and Rs 100,000 for the international competition, sponsored by Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA), HIMFF (Himalaya International Mountain Film of China) and Fredi-Ursulla Wohland from Switzerland, respectively.

The prize money for the best Nepali story film and the best documentary is Rs 100,000 and Rs 75,000 respectively. 

Kimff is an active member of the International Alliance for Mountain Film. It has 28 members from Mountain Film Festivals from 20 countries. The films screened at the festival will continue to entertain as well as draw attention to contemporary issues. A statement issued by the festival director Ramyata Limbu said that the organizing committee hopes that the festival will help in raising public dialogue and discussion on these issues.