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:
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Submission Platform | FilmFreeway |
| Call for Entries | December 9, 2025 |
| Early Bird Deadline | January 8, 2026 |
| Regular Deadline | February 2, 2026 |
| Late Deadline | March 10, 2026 |
| Notification Date | April 12, 2026 |
| Final Print Deadline | April 26, 2026 |
| Festival Dates | May 27-31, 2026 |
| Venue | QFX Chhaya Center, Thamel, Kathmandu |
| Feature Film Runtime | 50 minutes or longer |
| Short Film Runtime | Under 50 minutes |
| Eligibility Window | Films completed after January 1, 2024 |
| Premiere Status | Nepal premiere priority; publicly available films disqualified |
| Subtitles | English subtitles required for non-English films |
| Screening Fees | KIMFF does not pay screening or delivery fees |
| Exhibition Format | .mov or .mp4 video file, DCP if requested |
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.
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.
Past Winners
KIMFF 2026 (23rd edition) awarded USD 5,000 in international competition prizes, plus Nepal Panorama awards of Rs 100,000 each.
KIMFF 2026 International Competition:
- Best Feature Documentary (USD 1,500): The Oldest Munro Bagger (2026), directed by Jay Golian and Christina Golian (UK). The 57-minute documentary follows 80-year-old Nick Gardner as he attempts to complete all 282 of Scotland's Munros after his wife's dementia diagnosis. Gardner's journey raised over GBP 150,000 for Alzheimer's and Osteoporosis charities.
- Best Feature Fiction (USD 1,500): Ha Lyngkha Bneng (The Elysian Field)
- Best Short Documentary (USD 1,000): The Anti Expedition (2025), directed by Elena Jean (Canada/Nepal). The 40-minute documentary challenges modern adventure culture in Nepal's Rolwaling Valley.
- Best Short Fiction (USD 1,000): Ali
- Audience Award (Rs 100,000): Climbing for Life (2025), directed by Sakamoto Junji (Japan). The 123-minute biographical film about Junko Tabei, the first woman to climb Everest, premiered at the 73rd San Sebastian International Film Festival and was released in Japan on October 31, 2025. Kino Films distributed the film.
KIMFF 2026 Nepal Panorama:
- Best Documentary (Rs 100,000): My Mom is a Bodybuilder
- Best Fiction (Rs 100,000): Saanjhakaa Rangaharu (Colors of Evening)
KIMFF 2025 (22nd edition) key winners:
- Best ICIMOD Mountain Film Award: Butterfly Bhutan by Sonam Yangzom
- Best Mountaineering and Exploration Film: Ashima, directed by Kenzi Tsukamoto
- Best International Feature Fiction: Cu Li Never Cries by Pham Ngoc Lan
- Best International Feature Documentary: After the Snowmelt by Yi-Shan Lo
- Audience Award: Family Man by Kalani Gacon
Notable Alumni Films
- *Shape of Momo* (2025) - Directed by Tribeny Rai. Opened KIMFF 2026 as the Nepal Premiere. The Nepali-language drama is Rai's directorial debut, loosely based on her own life. Zoya Akhtar, Reema Kagti, Payal Kapadia, and Mike Goodridge serve as executive producers. The film had a theatrical release on May 29, 2026, and has screened at Glasgow Film Festival, C-Movie Italy, and the African, Asian and Latin American Film Festival. Spirit Media and Tiger Baby supported the film's festival circuit run.
- *Climbing for Life* (2025) - Directed by Sakamoto Junji. Won the Audience Award at KIMFF 2026. The film premiered at the 73rd San Sebastian International Film Festival on September 19, 2025. Kino Films distributed the film in Japan starting October 31, 2025. Sayuri Yoshinaga stars as Junko Tabei, the first woman to summit Everest.
- *The Anti Expedition* (2025) - Directed by Elena Jean. Won Best Short Documentary at KIMFF 2026. The 40-minute documentary was also selected for the Montreal Independent Film Festival and the Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival. The film examines ethical travel in Nepal's Rolwaling Valley.
Submission Tips
- Submit films about mountains, mountain communities, indigenous cultures, adventure, or high-altitude environments. KIMFF programs films that connect to its mountain cinema focus.
- Films completed after January 1, 2024 are eligible for the 2026 edition. Films submitted in previous editions cannot be resubmitted.
- KIMFF gives priority to films with Nepal premiere status. Films available publicly online will be disqualified. Do not make your film publicly accessible if you plan to submit.
- Submit through FilmFreeway. Deadlines for 2026 were: Early Bird January 8, Regular February 2, Late March 10.
- KIMFF does not pay screening fees or delivery fees. Filmmakers cover all delivery costs to Kathmandu. Factor this into your budget.
- English subtitles are required for non-English films. Submit an SRT file with English subtitles if selected.
- The festival accepts both features (50+ minutes) and shorts (under 50 minutes) across fiction, documentary, animation, and experimental categories. Music videos and TV commercials are not eligible.
- Films about Nepali subjects, Himalayan expeditions, or indigenous mountain communities have the strongest chance of selection. KIMFF's Kathmandu location provides the most contextually relevant audience for these topics.
Industry Reputation Notes
KIMFF is one of three major mountain film festivals globally, alongside Banff (Canada) and Trento (Italy). The festival has operated for 23 editions since 2000 and has built credibility in the mountain and adventure film community.
Compared to Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival, KIMFF has lower industry visibility and no World Tour distribution mechanism. Banff's World Tour reaches 500,000+ viewers across 45+ countries, which KIMFF does not match. Banff attracts distributors, outdoor brands, and international buyers. KIMFF draws primarily Nepali filmmakers, mountaineers, and the Kathmandu-based adventure community.
Compared to Trento Film Festival (Italy), which is FIAPF-accredited and attracts European distributors and Alpine tourism industry sponsors, KIMFF has a smaller industry footprint. Trento operates in a European market with established outdoor industry connections. KIMFF operates in Nepal, where the film industry is smaller but the mountain culture is deeper.
KIMFF's unique value is direct access to the Himalayan mountaineering community and the Nepali film industry. No other festival in the world offers this specific audience context. For filmmakers whose work involves Nepali subjects, Himalayan expeditions, or indigenous mountain communities, KIMFF is the most contextually relevant festival available.
The festival's USD 5,000 in competition prizes is modest compared to Banff's CAD 36,000 in awards. However, KIMFF's Nepal Panorama section provides a dedicated platform for Nepali filmmakers, with Rs 100,000 awards in both fiction and documentary categories.
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.
