Nepal International Film Festival (NIFF)

Overview

The Nepal International Film Festival (NIFF) is Nepal's main annual international film event. The 9th edition took place April 2-6, 2026 in Kathmandu, themed "Future Forward: Rooted in Memory, Moving Forward." The festival screened 88 films from 40 countries across five days of screenings and discussions, with 18 awards presented at the closing ceremony held at QFX Civil Mall, Sundhara, Kathmandu.

NIFF accepts submissions in four categories: Narrative Feature (60-120 minutes), Documentary (over 30 minutes), Short Film (under 30 minutes), and Student Short Film. Submissions are made exclusively through FilmFreeway. The 2026 submission deadlines were: Early Bird August 15, 2025; Standard October 15, 2025; Extended (final) December 15, 2025. Notification date was January 15, 2026. Submission fees vary by category and deadline, with reduced rates for FilmFreeway Gold members. National competition entries for narrative features are free.

The top prize is the Gautama Buddha Award for Best Feature Film in international competition, carrying a cash prize of USD 1,500. The Best National Feature Film receives USD 1,000. NIFF does not pay screening fees for selected films, and filmmakers are responsible for DCP screener delivery, travel, and accommodation.

Submission Details

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

Submission fees are listed on the FilmFreeway page and vary by category, deadline, and FilmFreeway membership status. Based on historical NIFF submissions, fees have ranged from USD 10 for early bird short films to USD 25 for late deadline features. National competition entries for narrative features are free. All fees must be paid to complete submission. Films submitted after the extended deadline are rejected.

Competition Categories and Awards

NIFF 2026 presented 18 awards across international, national, and South Asian competition sections:

International Competition

• Gautama Buddha Award - Best Feature Film - USD 1,500. 2026 winner: "Pooja, Sir" directed by Deepak Rauniyar (Nepal)
• Mt. Everest Award - Best Documentary Film - USD 1,000. 2026 winner: "The Ground Beneath Our Feet" directed by Yrsa Roca Fannberg (Iceland and Poland)
• Bagmati Award - Best Live Action Short Film - USD 500. 2026 winner: "Sheep" directed by Hadi Babaeifar (Iran)
• Manjushree Award - Best AI-themed Short Film - USD 500. 2026 winner: "Spirit of the Mountain" directed by Pang Jia (China)
• Best Student Film Award - USD 500. 2026 winner: "Passarinho" directed by Natalia Gracia Agraz (Mexico)
• IFFS Don Quixote Award - Best Feature Film - certificate. 2026 winner: "My Daughter's Hair" directed by Hesam Farahmand (Iran)
• Special Jury Mention (International Feature) - 2026: "The Shore of Life" (China)

National Competition (Nepal)

• Best National Feature Film Award - USD 1,000. 2026 winner: "Gunyo Cholo (The Dress)" directed by Samundra Bhatta
• Best Director (National) - 2026 winner: Samundra Bhatta for "Gunyo Cholo (The Dress)"
• Best Actor, Male (National) - 2026 winner: Najir Husen for "Gunyo Cholo (The Dress)"
• Best Actor, Female (National) - 2026 winner: Surakshya Panta for "Koshedhunga"
• Best Screenwriter (National) - 2026 winner: Deependra Gauchan for "Missing: Girl Lost Notice"
• Best Cinematographer (National) - 2026 winner: Babu Shrestha for "Koshedhunga"
• Best National Documentary - NPR 50,000. 2026 winner: "Home is Not a Place" directed by Lhakpa Choedon Lama
• Best National Short Film - NPR 50,000. 2026 winner: "Rihana" directed by Suraj Paudel

South Asian Competition

• Best South Asian Feature Film - USD 500. 2026 winner: "Jaar" directed by Phurba Tshiring Lama (Nepal and India)

Special Mentions

• Special Mention (National Documentary) - "As Day Goes By" directed by Ngima Gelu Sherpa
• Special Mention (International Short Film) - "Housekeeper" (India)

Festival History

The Nepal International Film Festival held its first edition in 2018. The festival was established to provide Nepal with a general international film festival platform, complementing the more specialized Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival (KIMFF), which focuses on mountain and adventure cinema. NIFF has run annually since its founding, with the 8th edition in March 2025 and the 9th in April 2026.

The festival is organized by the Nepal Film and Cultural Academy. NIFF has grown in scope each year, with the 2026 edition screening 88 films from 40 countries. The festival venues have included QFX Civil Mall in Sundhara and the Nepal Academy of Fine Arts (Lalit Kala Pragya Pratisthan). The 2026 closing ceremony was held at QFX Civil Mall under the chief guestship of the Academy's Chancellor.

Nepal's film industry, known as Kollywood, produces Nepali-language films for domestic audiences. NIFF provides the primary international platform for Nepali cinema alongside its international competition program. The festival's South Asian competition section specifically highlights films from the region, including India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and the Himalayan nations.

What Filmmakers Should Know

Premiere Status

NIFF prioritizes films with at least Nepal Premiere status by the festival date. Films that have been screened publicly before are not eligible. This premiere requirement is strict, meaning filmmakers should plan their festival circuit strategy carefully if they want NIFF to be part of it. The selection committee gives priority to fresh projects.

Eligibility

Films must have been produced after January 1, 2024 for the 2026 edition. All competition films must have English subtitles. The festival accepts feature films (60-120 minutes), documentaries (over 30 minutes), and short films (under 30 minutes). Student short films have a dedicated category. There are no runtime restrictions for national productions in the narrative feature category.

No Screening Fees

NIFF does not pay screening fees for selected films. Filmmakers are responsible for delivering the DCP screener and covering all travel and accommodation costs. This is standard for festivals in South Asia at this tier and should be factored into your festival budget.

Multiple Venue Screenings

Selected films may be screened at more than one venue in Nepal during the festival duration, including parallel screens in multiple cities. Applicants agree to this upon submission. If you have concerns about multiple screenings, review the full rules on FilmFreeway before submitting.

For Nepali Filmmakers

NIFF is the most important domestic international platform for Nepali cinema. The national competition section provides significant recognition within Nepal, with the Best National Feature winner receiving USD 1,000 and additional craft awards. The festival also offers a South Asian competition section that provides regional exposure for Nepali-language films from both Nepal and neighboring countries with Nepali-speaking communities.

For International Filmmakers

NIFF offers international filmmakers exposure in the South Asian market. The international competition includes feature films, documentaries, short films, student films, and a dedicated AI-themed short film category. The USD 1,500 top prize is modest by international standards but the festival provides access to Kathmandu's growing film community and the broader South Asian region.

See Also

For the mountain-focused Kathmandu festival, see Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival. Calculate your total festival submission costs using the Festival ROI Calculator. For South Asian cinema context, see International Film Markets. For festival strategy, see Film Festival Strategy. Submit through the NIFF FilmFreeway page or visit the official NIFF website.