The Nepal Africa Film Festival (NAFF) for the year 2023 recently concluded with great success. The event, held at the Rastriya Naachghar, a cultural landmark in Nepal’s federal capital, commenced on July 8th. The festival aimed to foster cultural exchange between Nepal and Africa through the medium of cinema.

The best films of the festival were announced, with ‘Prakash’ from Nepal and ‘The Train of Salt and Sugar’ from Africa taking home the top honors. Both movies impressed the judges with their exceptional storytelling and cinematic brilliance. In the African competition category, ‘Ya’, a short film by Ishi Hyamoha, received the judge’s award, while the best documentary award went to ‘Calling the Dead, from Zimbabwe.

Within the Nepali film competition, several individuals were recognized for their outstanding contributions. Bikas Subedi won the best screenwriter award for his work in the film ‘Prakash’, while Alish Karki received the music award for the same movie. Tej Giri was honored with the best male actor award for his performance in ‘Premgunj’, and Nita Dhungana received the best female actor award for her role in ‘Bhagya’. Roshan Kumar Shrestha was recognized as the best director for the film ‘Bhagya’ as well.

The festival featured a total of 22 films, including 10 from Africa and 12 from Nepal, selected for screening. The event was organized by the College of Journalism and Mass Communication (CJMC) in collaboration with the Film Development Board and Bilakshyan Creation. Festival Chairperson Manju Mishra expressed her satisfaction with the festival, highlighting its role in promoting cultural exchange between Nepal and Africa.

In addition to film screenings, NAFF also conducted a day-long workshop on acting and organized an interactive session titled ‘National and International Market for Nepali Short Films.’ These activities aimed to provide valuable insights and opportunities for aspiring filmmakers and actors to enhance their skills and understand the industry better.

The Nepal-Africa Film Festival 2023 not only showcased the diverse cinematic talents of both Nepal and Africa but also facilitated cultural connections and mutual understanding between the two regions. Through its celebration of cinema, the festival promoted cross-cultural exchange and provided a platform for emerging talents to shine. NAFF continues to play a significant role in bridging the gap between these vibrant film industries and fostering collaboration and appreciation for each other’s cinematic expressions.

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