The14th edition of the Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival (Kimff) concluded on Monday with moviemakers being awarded in four different categories. The fest which saw the screening of 83 films from 26 countries covered a wide range of subjects and issues from mountain climbing and adventure sports to anthropological exploration.

Susan Gluth-directed Urmila-My Memory is My Power bagged the top honours for the International Competition that carried a cash purse of $1500. Trembling Mountain (by Kesang Tsetsen) and Verso l’ignoto (by Fedrico Santini) won the second and third prizes in the category respectively.

Earlier in the day, three movie makers were awarded in the Nepali Short Film Competition. Sawari by Bishnu Kalpit bagged the top prize, which also carried a purse of Rs 80,000. The film showcased the reality and difficulties common people face in Kathmandu during serpentine traffic jams caused when VIP’s travel with their security detail. The second place, which carried a purse of Rs 60, 000, was bagged by Ashin Poudel’s A Day in The Life of Kanchi. The movie showed a day in a life of Kanchi, a 24-year-old woman living in Kathmandu with her four-year-old daughter. The third prize worth Rs. 40,000 was bagged by Amesh Bhandari’s Ghatto which told the story of a 12-year-old dyslexic boy who applies the motor effect law to build a fan from a broken radio.

Speaking to the Post about the festival, chairperson of Kimff, Basanta Thapa said, “The identity of our country lies in our mountains but we have very little knowledge about them. People only think of adventure sports and trekking when they think of the mountains but it is so much more than that. So, to make people understand various facets of mountains and also to bring change in the overall film making in Nepal, we first started Kimff and we are so happy that we have been able to bring some change in both understanding of mountains, as well as film making in Nepal.” He added, “I think to some extent we have been able to break the mould and provide new alternatives to ‘mainstream’ movies through our festival.”

The festival closed with the awarding of the remaining three competitions, International Movie Competition, Nepal Panorama and ICIMOD Mountain Film Award. 

Kimff Awards

International Competition:

First Prize: Urmila- My Memory

is My Power Director

Second Prize: Trembling Mountain  

Third Prize: Verso I’ignoto 

Jury Special Mention: Coming of Age Director and Il Passo

Nepal Panorama

Best Documentary:

In Search of Devaki

Best Ficton: Dadyaa: The Woodpeckers of Rotha

Jury Special Mention:

Beyond the White Cane

Audience Award: Mira

ICIMOD Best Mountain Film Award: A Song for Barpak