Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival (KIMFF)

Overview

The Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival (KIMFF) is Nepal's most distinctive and internationally recognized film festival. The 23rd edition runs May 27-31, 2026 at QFX Chhaya Center, Thamel, Kathmandu. KIMFF programs films about mountains, mountain communities, indigenous cultures, adventure, and high-altitude environments, subjects that resonate in Kathmandu, the gateway to the Himalayas.

The international competition awards USD 5,000 in cash prizes across four categories: Best Feature Fiction (USD 1,500), Best Feature Documentary (USD 1,500), Best Short Fiction (USD 1,000), and Best Short Documentary (USD 1,000). Submissions are made through FilmFreeway. The 2026 submission deadlines are: Early Bird January 8, 2026; Regular February 2, 2026; Late March 10, 2026. Notification of selected films is April 12, 2026, with final print delivery due April 26, 2026.

KIMFF accepts feature films (50 minutes or longer) and short films (under 50 minutes), including documentaries, fiction, animation, and experimental films. Music videos and TV commercials are not eligible. Films completed after January 1, 2024 are eligible for the 2026 edition. Priority is given to films with Nepal premiere status. Films available publicly online will be disqualified. KIMFF does not pay screening fees or delivery fees for selected films, and entry fees once paid are not refunded.

Submission Details

Submissions are made through FilmFreeway. Key details for the 2026 edition:

Submission fees are listed on the FilmFreeway page and vary by deadline tier (Early Bird, Regular, Late). Entry fees once paid are not refunded. Films submitted in previous editions of the festival cannot be resubmitted. The selection committee's choices are final for both competition and non-competition selections. KIMFF does not inform filmmakers about films that are not selected.

Competition Categories and Awards

The KIMFF 2026 international competition awards USD 5,000 in cash prizes:

• Best Feature Fiction - USD 1,500
• Best Feature Documentary - USD 1,500
• Best Short Fiction - USD 1,000
• Best Short Documentary - USD 1,000

Eligible projects include feature films (runtime 50 minutes or longer) and short films (runtime under 50 minutes), encompassing documentaries, fiction, animation, and experimental films. All films in the competition are judged by an international jury. Not all submissions are selected for the Official Competition. The festival's selection committee is free to make its own choices regarding both competition and non-competition selections.

In addition to the international competition, KIMFF typically programs non-competitive sections including Nepali film showcases, cultural heritage programs, and retrospective screenings. The full schedule is published on the KIMFF website ahead of the festival.

Festival History

KIMFF was founded in 2000 and has operated for over two decades, building a community around mountain cinema and Nepali cultural life. The 2026 edition is the 23rd, indicating the festival has run approximately annually with occasional gaps. KIMFF is one of a small number of mountain film festivals worldwide, alongside the Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival in Canada and the Trento Film Festival in Italy.

The festival was established to leverage Kathmandu's unique position as the gateway to the Himalayas. Films about Everest, the Himalayas, mountain communities of Nepal, Tibet, and the broader high-altitude world have an immediate resonance with Kathmandu audiences that no other festival location can match. The festival serves both the international mountaineering and adventure film community and the Nepali and Himalayan indigenous communities whose stories are central to mountain cinema.

Over its history, KIMFF has screened films from around the world covering mountaineering expeditions, environmental issues in mountain regions, indigenous mountain cultures, adventure sports, and personal narratives from high-altitude communities. The festival has historically included a conference program with discussions and masterclasses featuring international filmmakers, mountaineers, and environmentalists.

What Filmmakers Should Know

For Mountain and Adventure Filmmakers

KIMFF provides the most resonant and knowledgeable audience available anywhere for films about mountains, mountaineering, indigenous Himalayan cultures, or adventure in high-altitude environments. The festival's Kathmandu location connects films directly with the mountaineering and trekking community that uses the city as a base for Himalayan expeditions. No other festival in the world offers this specific audience context.

Premiere and Availability Requirements

KIMFF gives priority to films with Nepal premiere status during the selection process. Films that are available publicly online will be disqualified from selection. This means filmmakers should not make their film publicly accessible (on YouTube, Vimeo, or other platforms) if they intend to submit to KIMFF. The premiere priority is not an absolute requirement, but it affects selection ranking.

No Screening or Delivery Fees

KIMFF does not pay screening fees or delivery fees for selected films. Filmmakers are responsible for all costs associated with delivering the final exhibition format to Kathmandu. The festival requires a .mov or .mp4 video file for screening, and may request a DCP (Digital Cinema Package). If sending materials by courier, entrants must cover the cost of mailing, and the festival is not responsible for loss, damage, or delay in transit.

Eligibility and Format

Films completed after January 1, 2024 are eligible for the 2026 edition. Films submitted in previous editions cannot be resubmitted. The festival accepts documentaries, fiction, animation, and experimental films in both feature (50+ minutes) and short (under 50 minutes) categories. Music videos and TV commercials are explicitly excluded. Submissions in all languages are welcome, but films in languages other than English must have English subtitles to be eligible.

Selection Notification

KIMFF notifies selected filmmakers by April 12, 2026. The festival does not inform filmmakers about films that are not selected. If you do not receive a notification by the announcement date, your film was not selected. The final print of selected films must be submitted by April 26, 2026.

Comparison with Banff and Trento

KIMFF is one of three major mountain film festivals globally, alongside Banff (Canada) and Trento (Italy). Banff offers a World Tour distribution mechanism reaching 500,000+ viewers across 45+ countries, which KIMFF does not match. However, KIMFF offers something neither Banff nor Trento can provide: direct access to the Himalayan mountaineering community and the Nepali film industry. For filmmakers whose work involves Nepali subjects, Himalayan expeditions, or indigenous mountain communities, KIMFF is the most contextually relevant festival in the world.

See Also

For Nepal's general international film festival, see Nepal International Film Festival (NIFF). For the Banff mountain film festival for comparison, see Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival. Calculate your total festival submission costs using the Festival ROI Calculator. For documentary filmmaking approaches, see Documentary Filmmaking Guide. For festival strategy, see Film Festival Strategy. Submit through the KIMFF FilmFreeway page or visit the official KIMFF website.