Shabana Azmi, Marco Müller Set for Inaugural Kathmandu Film Festival
Kathmandu will host its first film festival from 30 October to 1 November, bringing together filmmakers and artists from across Asia, including Indian actor Shabana Azmi and film critic and historian Marco Müller. Launched by the city, the festival aims to showcase Nepali and international independent cinema, connect audiences with Kathmandu’s cultural heritage and build international ties.
The programme includes 40 films from 14 countries, with international selections such as “La Gradiva” and “No Good Men”, alongside Nepali short films and restored features from the 1970s and 1980s. The retrospective includes “Kumari”, described as Nepal’s first colour feature, while a shorts programme focused on Yamagata marks 70 years of diplomatic relations between Nepal and Japan. Screenings are free, with some events requiring advance booking; the schedule also includes master classes, filmmaker conversations and a heritage walk.
In short
- Kathmandu’s first film festival runs from 30 October to 1 November.
- It will screen 40 films from 14 countries.
- The programme includes restored Nepali classics and international cinema.
Explained simply
Kathmandu is the capital of Nepal, a country between India and China with a long history of arts and craft traditions. Film festivals bring filmmakers and audiences together to watch films, discuss how they are made and introduce work from different countries.
Shabana Azmi is an Indian actor, while Marco Müller is an Italian film critic and historian known for his work with international film festivals. Nepali cinema has a smaller global profile than the film industries of neighbouring India, and the festival’s programme includes both recent independent films and older works from Nepal.
The event is intended to give local and international filmmakers a place to meet and help audiences explore Nepal’s film history and cultural links with other countries. Its screenings, talks and heritage activities also connect cinema with Kathmandu’s wider cultural life.
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