KATHMANDU, June 5: The 4th Nepal International Indigenous Film Festival (NIIFF) has started at the City Hall in Bhrikutimandap in the capital from Wednesday. The festival started with a tableau performance and special cultural shows.
Organized by the NIIFF, the film festival will be held for three days from June 5 to 7.
Films made by filmmakers from different indigenous communities will be screened at the festival.
Inaugurating the festival, Deputy Speaker Indira Rana emphasized that films should play an important role in bringing positive change in the general understanding of indigenous communities. Different aspects of the indigenous communities should be explored through films, documentary and other kinds of arts.
Chair of the Federation of Indigenous Nationalities Film, Purkhajit Rai argued that films should have made in mother tongue to protect the identity of various communities, developing their customs, culture, language, traditional knowledge and tourism in natural areas.
He said, "We believe that this festival will be important to bring those movies to the national and international level. For this reason, I am confident that there will be a special presence and a special performance of international films and filmmakers at the festival."
Actor Dayahang Rai called upon all filmmakers to explore their community's stories with the world community. "There are many stories within us. Films have been made based on our values and beliefs, there is more to come. This film festival should be able to show us and our films to the world community", he said.