KATHMANDU: The ninth edition of the Nepal International Film Festival (NIFF), organized by the Nepal Film and Cultural Foundation with the aim of connecting Nepali cinema to the global film market, will take place from April 2–6, 2026.
Continuing its slogan, “A celebration of stories from around the world,” the organizers have officially announced the dates for this year’s festival. According to NIFF, films for this edition have been selected with a special focus on the interests of the younger generation.
“This time, we have prioritized films centered on youth. Our goal is to make NIFF more youth-friendly,” said NIFF President KP Pathak. “To encourage young filmmakers, we have also organized sessions such as workshops on AI filmmaking. Through films, we aim to inspire hope among young audiences.”
This year, more than 800 films from over 80 countries applied to participate in the festival. The Festival Film Selection Committee believes this edition will be special, as the most outstanding and engaging films have been selected from a record number of submissions.
“Compared to previous editions, this year has seen the highest number of entries,” said Chairman Pathak. “This reflects the growing trust of the international film community and filmmakers in NIFF.”
A total of 88 films from 40 countries have been selected, including feature films, short films, documentaries, and AI-generated films. Many of these films have been screened at prestigious international festivals such as Cannes, Berlin, Venice, Tribeca, Shanghai, Locarno, Busan, and Goa, and have received international awards.
NIFF opened global applications last June and had initially announced that the festival would begin on March 5. However, the event was postponed by a month due to the Gen-Z movement on September 8 and 9, 2025.
“During elections, concerns related to transportation, security, and logistics arise,” Chairman Pathak said. “Considering these complexities and the importance of the elections, the festival was postponed by one month.”
The winner of NIFF’s top honor, the Gautam Buddha Award for Best International Feature Film, will receive USD 1,500 in cash along with a trophy. The Best National Film Award carries a cash prize of NPR 100,000 and a trophy.
The Mount Everest Award for Best Documentary Film will be presented with USD 1,000 and a trophy, while the Best South Asian Feature Film Award includes USD 500 and a trophy. The Manjushree Award for the best AI film will also carry a cash prize of USD 500 along with a trophy.
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