Dharan’s first international film festival has kicked off at the premises of BP Koirala Health, and Science Academy on Wednesday. The five-day fest will feature a total of 47 films representing 13 countries. 

The first day of the fest saw the screening of the documentary Ma Alap Huna Chahanchhu, which is based on life and times of anthropologist and author Dor Bahadur Bista. The film has been directed jointly by Sachin Ghimire and Gaurav KC. 

The first day also saw screening of films such as Dome Samaaj, directed by Prem Raut and Sagar Bir Karki; Blank Page, from Russia; Tranquility Blood; and Amit Naravade’s Kalank, among others. 

Speaking to the Post, fest coordinator Deepak Shrestha said, “Although a number of film fests take place annually in the Capital, the mofussil happens to see only a few, if any, of such events. Organising the fest in Dharan is to break the mould.”

The jury members for the festival include Chinese director Chi Fi, French professor Dragan Milikovic, Bangladeshi documentary and TV journalist Tasmiha Afrin, and Laxminath Sharma and Rajesh Hamal from Nepal. The festival organised by All Nepal Film Makers Association will feature 18 Nepali and 29 international movies in the course of five days.