Nepal International Film Festival · 10th edition
Submit once. Screen in Kathmandu.
NIFF invites filmmakers worldwide to submit to its 10th edition, 25–29 March 2027. Selected films screen to live audiences across the city’s major cinemas, in front of an international jury and a festival press corps. Also, the filmmakers join a forum programme built for working conversations, not panels for their own sake.
01 / The festival
More than a screening event.
First held in Pokhara in August 2018, NIFF has grown every year in scale, submissions and international reach. Nine editions on, it is the longest-running and most visible cinematic festival in the country, showcasing films from more than 55 countries and bringing hundreds of international filmmakers, jury members and industry figures to Nepal.
Each edition is programmed under a thematic lens that responds to contemporary social, cultural and technological realities, and each carries a curated series of forums, master classes, pitching sessions and networking events alongside the screenings.
The 9th edition, held 2–6 April 2026, was the most expansive in the festival’s history: over 700 submissions from more than 50 countries, 88 films selected from 40 countries, and four venues — QFX Civil Mall, Chhaya Centre, Russian House and the Nepal Tourism Board.
- Organiser
- Nepal Film and Cultural Academy
- Co-organiser
- Nepal Tourism Board
- Promoters
- Film Development Board · Kathmandu Metropolitan City
- Venues
- QFX Cinemas Civil Mall · QFX Chhaya Center · Nepal Tourism Board
02 / Nepal Film Summit
The Nepal Film Summit:
the intellectual cornerstone of the festival.
The Summit runs across the festival week alongside the screenings. Attendance is open to accredited filmmakers and the public.
Masterclasses
Long-form sessions led by established directors, cinematographers and editors, with a working Q&A rather than a lecture.
Panel discussions
Moderated panels on the edition’s theme, drawing filmmakers, academics, policymakers and critics onto the same stage.
Pitching Forum
Selected emerging filmmakers pitch projects in development to producers, funders and potential collaborators.
Industry roundtables
Closed-door sessions on co-production, distribution and film policy, convened with national film bodies and visiting delegations.
Workshops & clinics
Practical training in screenwriting, editing, rights and contracts, and festival strategy — taught in Nepali and English.
Archiving & heritage sessions
Oral-history recording, digital archiving and open-access publication of Nepal’s cinematic record.
Selected programmes from the 9th edition
Kumari: the untold story of Nepal’s first colour film
Panelists revisited the making of Nepal’s first colour film and surfaced oral histories of early cinematography — a call to document a vanishing cinematic heritage.
From script to screen: protecting your film
IP lawyer Priyanjana Bhattarai on copyright registration, NDAs and force majeure clauses, illustrated with real Nepali industry cases.
Cinema Sambad: in conversation with Ramesh Sippy
The director of Sholay in conversation with Rajesh Hamal on a cinematic legend’s creative process.
Beyond the final cut: Wikipedia and digital archiving
Wikimedian Nabin K. Sapkota on open-access archiving across Nepali, Newari, Maithili and Sudurpashchim editions.
Kathaharuko Punardaabi: who holds the power to tell stories?
Filmmakers interrogated the politics of narrative — who has the right to tell a story, who benefits, and who is excluded.
Pitching Forum
Eight emerging Nepali filmmakers pitched original projects to industry professionals and potential collaborators.
03 / Rules & terms
Read before you submit.
Eligibility criteria
- Narrative feature: over 60 minutes. Narrative shorts: under 30 minutes. Documentaries: over 20 minutes. No runtime restriction for national features.
- Films completed before 1 January 2025 do not qualify. Films screened at past editions of NIFF do not qualify. Films freely available in the public domain do not qualify.
- All competition entries must carry English subtitles burned into the film.
- The selection committee prioritises fresh projects with at least Nepal Premiere status by the festival date.
Technical format
- Container: MP4 or MOV for submission and preview; DCP for festival screening.
- Resolution: 1920 × 1080 or higher.
- Video codec: H.264 or ProRes.
- Audio: 2.0 stereo or 5.1 surround. Screening formats are confirmed after selection.
Before submitting
- Films that violate the eligibility requirements are rejected.
- All submissions, national and international, are made through filmfreeway.com/niff2027, with associated fees paid to complete the entry.
- All submissions must be made before the extended final deadline of 31 December 2026.
After submitting
- Selection begins as submissions arrive; finalists are announced on 15 January 2027.
- The programming committee holds full jurisdiction over final selection.
- Selected films must deliver a full press kit, a DCP screener via cloud storage, and confirmation of travel before 15 February 2027.
- Films are securely archived and used only for the 2027 festival screening; supplied materials may be used for festival promotion and press.
- Selected films are screened to live audiences in Nepal, potentially at more than one venue. NIFF has no policy of paying screening fees.
04 / Filmmaker reviews
From directors who came to Kathmandu.
“I sincerely appreciated the warm hospitality and the opportunity to engage with passionate filmmakers from around the world.”
“The warmth of the hospitality, the thoughtfully organized filmmakers’ tour … truly reflected the festival’s commitment to its artists.”
“I’m grateful that my film could be part of your festival.”
“The organization and production was top notch and it was a true honor to have our film screened at NIFF.”
“The festival team communicated clearly and professionally, making the entire process smooth and pleasant.”
“The atmosphere at the festival was wonderful and offered many great networking opportunities.”
Reviews published on the festival’s FilmFreeway listing, which carries 48 filmmaker reviews.
Questions before you enter
Not sure which category your film belongs in?
Send us the runtime, country of production and completion date, and we will tell you where it fits before you pay a submission fee.