KATHMANDU — The excitement is building fast. With its pre-event activities wrapped up, the Nepal International Film Festival (NIFF) has officially entered its main event phase — and the international guests are already on their way.
The 9th edition of NIFF, scheduled from Chaitra 19 to 23 (April 2–6), is being held under the theme "Future Forward" with the tagline "A Celebration of World Stories." Organizers say all technical and logistical preparations have been finalized.
"We've moved into the main event right after the pre-events concluded," said NIFF Chairperson KP Pathak. "Foreign guests have already started arriving."
Among the most anticipated arrivals is Ramesh Sippy — the legendary Bollywood director best known for the iconic Sholay — who is set to land in Kathmandu on the evening of Chaitra 18. He will be joined by actress Kiran Juneja and Nepal-origin Indian film producer Nilkantha Regmi. The opening ceremony at Civil Mall on Chaitra 19 will be graced by Laxmikumari Basnet, Communications Secretary of the Government of Nepal, as the chief guest.
One of the most talked-about moments of the festival promises to be a candid conversation titled "Cinema Dialogue: With Ramesh Sippy and Rajesh Hamal" — a rare on-stage exchange between the Bollywood legend and Nepal's very own Mahanayak. Scheduled for Chaitra 20 at the Tourism Board, the two will open up about their personal journeys, experiences in cinema, and their vision for the future of film.
This year, NIFF is also embracing the future head-on with a five-day AI Film Workshop running throughout the festival — targeting young filmmakers curious about how artificial intelligence is reshaping storytelling. "It's a workshop on using AI in film production," explained NIFF Coordinator Shiva Puri, adding that experts will also address the legal complexities of AI-generated content and copyright concerns.
For writers still searching for the right producer, the festival has introduced a "Feature Pitch" program — a platform where screenwriters can personally pitch their stories to producers, bridging the often difficult gap between creative vision and financial backing.
On the competitive front, 88 films from 40 countries are vying for honors this edition. Additionally, 6 Chinese and 4 Russian films will be screened outside the competition as special presentations. A dedicated Russian Film Days event will be held at the Russian House, with free screenings open to the public. Similarly, a Xizang Panorama section will showcase 6 Chinese films and documentaries for free at the Tourism Board and Chhaya Centre, while competition films will have ticketed screenings at Civil Mall and Chhaya Centre.
Rounding out the program are 10 interactive sessions, where filmmakers from across the world will share their craft, struggles, and stories — reminding everyone why cinema, at its heart, is about human connection.
The festival runs April 2–6 in Kathmandu.