By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, June 17: Nepal America Film Society has announced the fourth edition of Nepal-America International Film Festival from 17 to 20 of June. This year, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic raging across the world, the festival will be held virtually.
Submission of films from all over the world is now open, reads a statement of the Society.
The festival showcases all genres of films including feature lengths, documentaries, animations, experimental and shorts from Nepal, South Asia, USA and all around the world.
As in previous years, films from the Global Peace Film Festival Florida will be screened in the Special Sidebar Section.
Films from Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia will be featured in the special DMV Close-up Section.
The festival will also feature industry panels, critical conversations with filmmakers.
This year, according to the festival organisers, 30 films from 14 countries including Nepal will be screened at the festival. A jury of six women – Ramyata Limbu, Sapna Shakya, Rebecca Bustamante, Nina Streich, Rita Meher and Portia Cobb – will announce and award the best films from this year’s festival.
The film festival will be inaugurated on Thursday and the closing ceremony and prizes will be distributed on Sunday. The films screened at the festival will be available for free viewing on smart phones, iPads, computers, laptops and smart televisions through the Event app.
NAIFF is an annual film event organised by Nepal America Film Society Inc, a non-profit organisation based in Prince George’s County.
Every year, it brings together more than three thousand film enthusiasts from Maryland and the greater Washington DC region including filmmakers, volunteers, community leaders, film and community organisations and businesses.
NAIFF aims to bring together people from diverse cultures through the art of cinema.
Since 2017, the Film Festival has built a unique reputation as an emerging platform for filmmakers with Nepali background along with American filmmakers and the filmmakers from the international diaspora, reads a press statement.
In 2020, the festival could not be held because of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, Nepal America Film Society joined hands with seven other South Asian film festivals in North America to organise Coalition of South Asian Film Festivals (CoSAFF) in October.