KATHMANDU

The 17th edition of Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival (KIMFF) concluded with the special screening of movie ‘Heidi’ by Alain Gsponer (Switzerland/Germany) on Sunday. And it celebrated Sir Edmund Hillary’s centennial year with a special screening of ‘The Ascent of Everest’ by Michael, about the conquest of Everest by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa on May 29, 1953, officially marked the opening of the film festival on Wednesday.

This year Kimff showcased not only documentaries and experimental films, but also international movies depicting the narratives of people living in mountain regions. Meanwhile, there were films about adventure, climbing, trekking, paragliding and other mountain sports such as rafting and canyoning.

The film festival showcased film having three categories—international competition, non-competitive section, and a Nepal Panorama section— with more than 70 films having diversity in genres. The Kimff 2019 jury including performance artist Ashmina Ranjit (Nepal), festival director Gabriela Kuhn (Poland) and film director Lee Jae Kyoo (Korea) decided the top three films in the international competition (17 shortlisted) and the top documentary film and fiction film in the Nepal Panorama selection.

Moreover, Kimff Chairperson Basanta Thapa shared, "Mountain film festival is a part of larger movement to transfer mountain culture, mountain society, people and environment through the audio visual means. We want to use films for transforming of society for better.”

The five-day long film festival highlights also included Master Classes by Australian adventurer and filmmaker Michael Dillon and Nepali artist Tsherin Sherpa.

Winners

International competition

First Prize: ‘Piano to Zanskar’ by Michal Sulima

Rs 200,000

Second Prize: ‘Journey to the Centre of the Heart’ by Kalani Gacon

Rs 150,000

Third Prize: ‘Cuerdas’ (Ropes) by Marga Guitierrez

Rs 100,000

Nepal Panorama Awards

Best Documentary: ‘Portrait of Mane’ by Pranav Narayan Manandhar

Rs 75,000

Best Fiction: ‘Junu Ko Jutta’ (The Shoe of Little Girl) by Kedar Shrestha

Rs 100,000

Best Mountain Adventure Film Award: Dreamland: A Documentary about Maciej Berbeka by Stainslaw Berbeka

Rs 100,000

Audience Award: ‘Ama Khando’ by Dhondup Tsering

Rs 75,000

Toni Hagen Documentary Youth Grants:

The Toni Hagen Foundation Switzerland sponsored three grants, each Rs 150,000

‘Gaine’ by Pradeep Dhakal

‘Blues of Pink’ by Grishma Giri

‘Chitrapuri Nagar’ by Rajeela Shrestha

Paribartit Nepal: Short Film Competition

First Prize: ‘Ekata’ (Unity) by Nawa Bijaya Prakash Shrestha

Rs 40,000

Second Prize: ‘Alter the Change’ by Jayanti Kunwar

Rs 30,000

Third Prize: ‘The Red Scarf’ by Deepak Subba

Rs 20,000