23rd International Mountain Film Festival Concludes with Awards Ceremony

Kathmandu. The 23rd edition of the International Mountain Film Festival (KIMFF) concluded on Sunday (May 31) with the distribution of awards to the best films in various categories.

During the five-day festival, more than 50 films from 29 countries were screened, along with interactive panel discussions, contemporary debates, exhibitions, and workshops.

In the international competition, 'The Oldest Munroe Beggar' received the award for the best feature documentary, winning a cash prize of 1,500 US dollars. Similarly, 'The Anti Expedition' was declared the best short documentary, winning a cash prize of 1,000 US dollars.

In the fiction category, 'Ha Lingkha Bne: The Elysian Field' was declared the best feature fiction, winning 1,500 US dollars, while 'Ali' received the award for best short fiction along with 1,000 US dollars. 

The international jury this year included Deepti D. Cunha, Film Program Coordinator from India, Chalida Uabumrungjit, Director of the Archive from Thailand, Kumar Nagarkoti, writer and poet from Nepal, and Luca Biç, Director of the Cervino CinemaMontagna Festival from Italy.

'My Mom is a Bodybuilder' was declared the best documentary in the Nepal Panorama section, while 'Evening Colors' received the award for best fiction film. Both these films received a cash prize of Rs. 1,00,000 each.

The evaluation for this category was done by a team comprising Lucy de Barros, Cultural and Communication Coordinator of Alliance Française Kathmandu, Nepali filmmaker Naveen Chauhan, and film journalist and critic Rina Moktan.

Similarly, the 'Audience Award' of Rs. 1,00,000, given based on audience choice, was received by Japanese director Sakamoto Junji's film 'Climbing for Life'. This film is based on the life of Junko Tabei, the first woman to climb Mount Everest, the world's highest peak.

The festival was inaugurated with the Nepal premiere screening of the film 'Shape of Momo' directed by Triveni Rai. During the festival, special screenings of 'Climbing for Life', discussions on film and censorship, and in-depth discussions on the changing landscape of Nepali film production were held.