Nepal-American International Film Festival concludes

KATHMANDU: The seventh edition of the Nepal-America International Film Festival 2024, which kicked off on June 20 concluded in Maryland on Monday with a screening of the film 'The Red Suitcase' directed by Fidel Devkota.

Distinguished guests from Nepal, including actor Dayahang Rai and director Nabin Subba, graced the event alongside Phil Davis, Countywide Arts Coordinator at the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission.

The four-day-long festival was inaugurated with the show of Nabin Subba’s film 'Gaon Aayeko Bato–A Road to a Village' starring Dayahang Rai at the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center. 

Maryland-based Nepal-America Film Society organizes the Nepal-America International Film Festival every year.

This year 35 diverse films– from both shorts and feature categories– representing 11 countries including Nepal, America, Iran, Germany, and Pakistan were screened in Silver Spring and Greenbelt Cinema in Greenbelt, Maryland.

Director Subba said the festival would be important in promoting Nepali films among the Nepali diaspora. Actor Rai said he has been getting space in such festivals since his previous film– ‘Seto Surya–The White Sun’.

The chairperson of Nepal-America International Film Society Purna Singh Baraili,  said such festivals will play a crucial role in internationalising Nepali films. "Such a function helps establish the identity of Nepali culture and Nepali films in diverse American society,” Baraili told the Dignity Post. He said the festival remained successful this year and would be more participatory and better next year. 

The festival jury, comprising Deepak Rauniyar, Michael Brown, Nina Streich, and Rebecca Bustamante, selected the following winners and special jury mentions for 2024.

JURY AWARD SHORT:

• Remnants [Nepal]- Winner | Director: Dhanraj Barkote

JURY AWARD FEATURE:

• Mom [Mexico] -Winner | Director: Xun Sero

EMPOWERMENT AWARD:

• Wakhri [Pakistan/USA]- Winner | Director: Iram Parveen Bilal

BEST DMV CLOSEUP:

• Mera Daddu (My Grandpa) [India/US]- Winner | Director: Sri Mirajkar

BEST SHORT DOCUMENTARY:

• No Monastery No Village [Nepal]- Winner | Director: Tashi Lhazam

BEST FEATURE DOCUMENTARY:

• No Winter Holidays [Nepal]- Winner | Director: Rajan Kathet and Sunir Pandey

BEST SHORT NARRATIVE:

• Sanai [Nepal] -Winner | Director: Akanchha Karki

BEST SHORT INTERNATIONAL

• Nyanga [Mexico] — Winner | Director: Medhin Tewolde Serrano

BEST SHORT NEPALI PANORAMA:

• Dhye Dreams [Nepal] — Winner | Director: Shanta Nepali

BEST FEATURE INTERNATIONAL:

• Parvin [Iran]- Winner | Director: Mirabbas Khosravinezhad