Karnali Launches 'Destination Karnali' Campaign Through International Film Festival

Karnali. With the slogan 'Tour Karnali, See Karnali', the 'Destination Karnali' campaign has been launched through the Karnali International Film Festival.

During a press conference held in Birendranagar, Surkhet on Thursday, Festival Director Chakra Bahadur Chand announced that the 3rd Karnali International Film Festival 2083 is being organized to promote Nepali cinema, highlight the potential of film tourism in Karnali, and raise awareness about climate change.

He stated, "Through the 3rd Karnali International Film Festival 2083, we will conduct various activities to connect film and tourism from cities to villages, focusing on the Karnali region of Nepal. Despite immense potential, activities related to tourism development and cinema are almost non-existent here."

Director Chand explained that the 'Destination Karnali' campaign was initiated to preserve and promote Karnali's countless stories, lifestyle, language, attire, art, culture, literature, traditions, and customs, addressing the state's minimal role in these areas.

Literary figure, writer, and festival advisor Mahendra Malla announced a film script competition to uncover hidden stories of Karnali, noting that experts are currently selecting entries. He mentioned that priority will be given to stories based on reality rather than fiction that reflect Karnali's originality, with a prize of one lakh rupees for the best script.

The festival is expected to contribute significantly to tourism promotion, cultural exposure, social transformation, economic prosperity, international recognition, and establishing Karnali as a hub for film tourism and shooting. The organizers stated that the festival, which began in Surkhet, will conclude in Jumla after passing through Kupinde Lake in Salyan, Rukum West, Jajarkot, Dailekh, and Kalikot.

'International Conference on Multidisciplinary Studies' to be held at Mid-Western University

An 'International Conference on Multidisciplinary Studies-2026' is set to take place starting Thursday at Mid-Western University, located in Birendranagar, Surkhet, the capital of Karnali Province. The university is organizing the conference from Baisakh 11-13 in collaboration with Birla Global University, India.

Dr. Yadu Prasad Gyawali, Executive Director of the University's Directorate of International Relations, informed at a press conference on Thursday that the event is organized under the theme 'Interdisciplinary Synergies for a Sustainable Future in the Age of AI and Digital Transformation' to connect Nepal's higher education, research culture, international collaboration, regional development, and policy dialogue on a common platform.

He stated that the three-day conference aims to develop new concepts regarding artificial intelligence, digital transformation, and sustainability, analyze complex problems in education, technology, governance, economy, and society from an interdisciplinary perspective, expand international research collaboration, and provide recommendations for evidence-based policy making.

He said, "The conference will focus on seven major themes. More than 344 research papers will be presented under subjects including Agriculture, Environment and Food Security, Education and Human Development, Law, Policy and Governance, Management, Economics and Entrepreneurship, Health and Population, Science, Technology and Engineering, and Social Sciences and Humanities."

According to Executive Director Dr. Gyawali, the conference will feature representation from 21 countries, over 500 participants, more than 344 research paper presentations, world-class speakers, a Vice-Chancellors' round table, and discussions on diaspora-related economic entrepreneurship.