Speaking at closing ceremony, Basanta Thapa, the coordinator of KIMFF, considered the festival a successful one.[break]
The filmmakers were awarded in three different categories: Nepal Panorama, International Competition and Audience Award.
The films were adjudged by a three-member jury consisting of Helsinki, Finland based cultural producer Helena Mielonen, a British architect, mountaineer and landscape painter John Innerdale, and a scholar, critic and actor Sanjeev Upreti.
“The Desert Eats Us,” directed by Kesang Tseten, received the Nepal Panorama award. Tseten had won Audience Choice award for his film “Saving Dolma” at KIMFF last year. Talking about the film, Sanjeev Uprety said, “The film is full of dark humor and the narrative flows naturally. It is one of the best films in the festival.”
The International Competition had three winners. The third prize went to “Beyond the Summit” by Remy Tezier from France. Helena Mielonen referred to the movie as being an example of determination. “It’s about a woman who was born to climb,” she said.
The second prize in the same category was given to what John Innerdale described as “an overpowering film that was just like a poem.” Innerdale added that the film entitled “Family Instincts,” directed by Andris Gauja from Latvia “was a disturbing film and I had never seen a film quite like this.”
The winner of the international category award was “Summer Pasture,” a film by Lynn True and Nelson Walker.
This year’s Audience Choice award was given to Dipendra Bhandari’s “Journey to Yarsa.” The film had received Debut Film Award at the Film South Asia earlier this year. “I dedicate the award to Punimaya didi, my central character, and the villagers of Rukum,” said Dipendra.
The winner in the international category received US$ 1,500 while 1st and 2nd runners-up received US$ 1,000 and US$ 500 respectively. Best Nepali panorama received Rs 25,000.
KIMFF screened 52 from 22 countries this year. While seventeen films competed in the international category, 21 films were screened under international non-competitive section and six under Nepal panorama.
KIMFF also featured a special section of short films from northern Europe’s biggest film festival, the Tampere Film Festival, and held special screening of Toni Hagen’s “Cultural Vignettes of Nepal,” a film showcasing various Nepali dance forms and music shot in the 1950s.
“Voice for Justice,” a film by OHCHR was showcased on the occasion of International Human Rights Day on December 10.
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