KATHMANDU: The 12th edition of Israeli Film Festival has commenced in Thamel, Kathmandu from Thursday, bringing further closer Nepal and Israel at people-to-people level through art and cinema.

To mark nearly six decades of establishment of Nepal-Israel diplomatic relations and further consolidate the bilateral relations between the two countries through the exchange of cultures, the film festival was organised, according to the Israeli Embassy to Nepal.

Minister for Tourism, Culture and Civil Aviation Rabindra Prasad Adhikari inaugurated the three-day Festival yesterday where he expressed gratitude towards the Israeli government for extending financial and technical assistance in Nepal's development efforts.

Stating that Nepal could learn a great deal from Israel's stride in economic, social, technological and agriculture sector, Minister Adhikari expressed his confidence that the Film Festival would support in publicity of tourism in Nepal to make Visit 2020 a success.

He viewed that Nepal, the land of Mt Everest and mountains measuring above 8,000 metres, its rich biodiversity, cultural heritages and festivities had provided a good platform for shooting pictures and urged the Israeli producers to capitalise on the picturesque landscapes of Nepal and do shoot their films in Nepal.

On the occasion, Israeli Ambassador to Nepal Benny Omer was quoted in Rastriya Samachar Samiti as saying that various cultural programmes were hosted in Nepal since Nepal and Israel established diplomatic relation in 1960 and this Film Festival, as he put it, was a part of cultural diplomacy.

Similarly, Chief Executive Officer Khem Raj Lakai of Global Academy of Tourism and Hospitality expressed his gratitude towards the Israeli Embassy in Nepal for choosing the auditorium of his college as a venue to screen Israeli films.

The festival is scheduled from 02 - 04 November 2018, at QFX Chhaya Center, Thamel, Kathmandu. Two films will be screened everyday, starting 3:00 pm and 6:00 pm.

The years 2017/18 have been declared by the Government of Israel as the jubilee years for the events that shaped the history of modern Israel. The 12th edition of Israeli Film Festival is dedicated to the people of Israel, showing other sides of Israel: a different cultural dimension. These selected films tell stories of families, Jewish traditions, struggles and successes.

The film festival is offering free entry to movie buffs visiting the Festival to watch Israeli films.