Bhaktapur Film Festival to Showcase Local Arts and Provide Platform for New Filmmakers

The 'Bhaktapur Film Festival' is scheduled to be held in Bhaktapur on Chaitra 6 and 7 with the objective of developing the art and literature of Bhaktapur and providing a platform for new filmmakers.

This festival is being organized by a group of young filmmakers from Bhaktapur, including Kiran Kilambu, Safal Baidya, Smit Giri, Bikesh Prajapati, Saksham KC, and Praveen Takki. Kiran Kilambu will serve as the festival director.

"Bhaktapur is also our birthplace. Therefore, we are organizing this festival in Bhaktapur for the first time with the aim of developing the culture and art here," said Kilambu, who is also the director of Pawaladyam.

A total of 24 films will be screened during the two-day festival. The festival will commence with the screening of 'Gaun Aayeko Bato' directed by Nabin Subba. Films to be shown at the festival include 'Aaina Jhyalko Putali' directed by Sujit Bidari, 'Song of Clouds' by Ankit Paudel, 'At Another Winter' by Kiran Shrestha, and the documentary 'Dhorpatan' directed by Rajan Kathet and Sunir Pandey. The documentary 'Mother Rebika' by Sandesh Bhurtel will be the closing film. Additionally, two Newa culture-focused films, 'Kija Puja' and 'Newa Buddhism in Nepal,' will also be screened.

According to the festival coordinator, Smit Giri, they initiated this festival out of the necessity to provide a platform for independent (indie) filmmakers and their works.

Filmmaker Keshav Pandey will conduct a workshop on story writing. He will conduct this workshop the day before the festival begins. The festival will be held at Nepal Vocational Academy in Kamal Binayak, Bhaktapur.