KATHMANDU Incessant Rain Studios has collaborated with NIMB Ace Capital to present Lost In Mandala, a historic cinematic project billed as Nepal's first animated feature film designed specifically for the global market. An exclusive sneak peek of the film was held at QFX Cinemas, Chhaya Center on July 27. Inspired by the Himalayas' rich spiritual traditions and breathtaking landscapes, the animated fantasy adventure follows a 12-year-old girl and her friends as they become lost in an alternate dimension. To save the world, the group must confront and defeat a malevolent dark force using the strength of love and compassion. The film's goal is to introduce authentic Himalayan storytelling to international audiences by incorporating universal themes like belonging, friendship, and self-discovery into Nepali culture and folklore. The production features a distinguished team of international and local creative talent. The project is created and directed by Kiran Bhakta Joshi, the founder and co-chief executive of Incessant Rain Studios and a former visual effects supervisor at Walt Disney Studios.

Joshi, who has worked on iconic animated films such as The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, and The Hunchback of Notre Dame, hopes that Lost In Mandala will help to establish Nepal as a global destination for animated filmmaking. Hollywood screenwriter Zack Stentz, whose notable feature film credits include Thor, X-Men: First Class, and Agent Cody Banks, as well as television work on Fringe, The Flash, and Netflix's Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous, wrote the screenplay for the film. Executive VFX Producer Deepa Chipalu Joshi, co-founder and co-chief executive of Incessant Rain Studios, is in charge of international partnerships and the film's overall production strategy. Her industry credits include Yellowstone, Gangs of London, and The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. The creative team hopes that this collaboration will help to establish Nepali animation on a global scale. Meanwhile, Shivanth B Pande, CEO of NIMB Ace Capital, highlighted the opportunities of the globalisation of Asian content and the capabilities of Incessant Rain under the stewardship of Joshi. He also stressed the need to open to this rather different type of investment opportunity by institutions to reap the benefits of global opportunities.