Ká, 6. december - Himal Association is proud to present the 6th Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival (KIMFF) from 11-15 December 2008. More than 60 films covering a wide array of subjects - including conflict, culture, climbing, wildlife, environment, globalization, gender, and lifestyles - will be screened. The festival received 200 entrees from 36 countries this year, of which 65 films have been selected for the festival.
Thirty-four films will be screened in the international non-competitive section, 19 in the international competitive category, and 12 films in Nepali Panorama section. The top three films will receive cash awards of USD 1500, 1000, and 500 respectively. A three-member international jury comprising Nepali film director Yadav Kharel, Indian filmmaker Ugyen Chopel, and Australian mountaineer and author Brigitte Muir will judge the best films. An Audience Award will be given to the film that receives the most votes from the viewers. KIMFF’08 will feature several satellite programs including a book release and exhibition, a talk on filmmaking by Ugyen Chopel, a talk on climbing by Brigitte Muir, and “Know Your Himal” quiz by Nepali Times editor Kunda Dixit. A series of photographs on mountain porters by British photographer and Olympus-awardee Nick Mason will be exhibited at KIMFF’08 along with a display of photos by finalists of the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) - sponsored global digital photography competition entitled “For Mountains and People”. A Travelling Package consisting of some of the best films from KIMFF’08 will be screened at various venues outside Kathmandu after the festival. KIMFF’08 will feature a special section of thought-provoking films promoting peace and reconciliation, human rights, indigenous rights, and celebrating socio-cultural diversity. The selection includes - The Sari Soldiers/ US-Nepal, Yudha Chitra (Frames of War)/ Nepal, Rightful Place/ USA, Crying Sun: Impact of War in the Mountains of Chechnya/USA, The Day after Peace/ UK, and I Want My Father Back/ India. We hope that screening such films will help generate discussions on post-conflict reconciliation, reconstruction and rehabilitation and create an environment for people of all cultural backgrounds to be equal partners in progress. KIMFF’07 received over 20,000 viewers and we expect more this year. We are confident that KIMFF will continue to receive the support and encouragement from members of the media as we have done in the past. The main purpose of Kimff is to showcase films that attract peer review and critiques that lead to a better documentation of mountain issues, particularly of highland regions of the developing world.
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