KATHMANDU, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- The five-day 15th edition of Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival (KIMFF) has kicked off here with the participation of more than 70 films from 37 countries.
The festival from Thursday will showcase documentaries, fictions, experimental films and animation on adventure sports, mountaineering, lost cultures, migration, ancient lifestyles, burning social, environmental and conservation issues that affect highland communities worldwide.
Organized by Himal Association and promoted by Nepal Tourism Board, the annual festival aims to promote the young talents in and outside the country.
Addressing the inaugural ceremony at QFX Kumari Cinemas, KIMFF Chairman Basanta Thapa said that "KIMFF is able to bring the best of films in documentary genre for the benefit of discerning audience and provides a viable platform for upcoming Nepali talents to showcase their work."
This year's festival opened with the Asian premiere of the documentary The Last Honey Hunter directed by Ben Knight in partnership with National Geographic Channel.
KIMFF will feature 15 films in international competition and 48 films in the non-competitive section. The "Nepal Panorama" section will screen 15 films, both documentary and narrative, by local filmmakers.
The winners of the international competition and best fiction film and non-fiction category in Nepal Panorama will be awarded with the cash prize on the last day.
