Kathmandu

Five-day long Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival (KIMFF) ended with a lot of emotion on December 14 at Kumari Hall in Kamal Pokhari. There were awards, speeches, and a lot of appreciation. To begin with, documentary film Bhagyale Bachekaharu (Nepal Earthquake: Heros, Survivors and Miracles) directed by Ganesh Panday bagged audience award and Nepal Panorama best documentary film winning a cash prize of Rs 50,000.

Being on a different level and happy is obvious at such a moment. “I am really happy that my work got recognised and for an independent film-maker like me the award has added more energy to continue my work. Though I have watched the movie several times I cried every time with the audience. This gave me the title of aashu (tear) director,” shared Panday. Not only was the director elated he acknowledges the reality too as “the earning from screening the documentary will be used for the education of the survivors in the documentary”.

Panday was not the only one who felt sentimental, Basanta Thapa, chairperson of KIMFF too was on the same page. “We were almost in tears before KIMFF kicked off this year. We were facing numerous problems — fuel crisis, blockade, and others. We weren’t sure about the turnover, but today my eyes are moist with KIMFF’s resounding success and support from everyone. We will do everything to make this event more attractive in days to come,” Thapa expressed.

Chandani Rana, among the audience justified the reason for such a turnover, “Nepal needs this kind of international film festival as it helps spread words about Nepal. Things happening in Nepal will get recognised internationally through the medium of movies.”

And from a makers point of view KIMFF has been an inspiring platform. “We expect a lot from KIMFF and it motivates us to move forward. With the medium of film we can reflect various issues of the society,” mentioned Nisha Shrestha, producer of Kamaro.

With all this it was natural for Thapa to be overwhelmed as this year 300 films from 53 countries sent their entries where 80 films from 25 countries were selected for screening at KIMFF. Also this is the first time that KIMFF travelled outside Nepal to screen four films to Hong Kong, Macau, and New York where $1,800 was raised. This will fund for building a school at Solukhumbu, which was destroyed in April earthquake as per Thapa.