What was Kathmandu busy with before the news of Kulman Ghising hit the city? Yes, Durgesh Thapa's song was swaying. However, Kathmandu was decorated in the colors of art as the charm of 'Hot Hoye Pat Hoye' did not end.

Kathmandu became colorful when the spring wind dried this color of art and made it dark. Last week was great at the Kathmandu Film and Theater Festival. Two festivals were going on here simultaneously – Nepal International Film Festival (NIF – 8th Edition) and Nepal International Theater Festival (NITFEST – 3rd Edition). These two festivals celebrated a grand festival of film and drama, bringing in international guests. 

How many of the creations of foreign guests were seen on the screens of QFX, how many in the courtyard of the Mandala Theater. In that sense, Kathmandu was festive this week. 'Nif' brought Nepali filmmakers together and debated on various interesting topics. The city celebrated stories by watching national and international films in gatherings of filmmakers. There, foreign and domestic plays are staged continuously in the Mandla's courtyard and two theaters. The

kept happening. "Knitfest" has led 600 viewers daily to "Raithane Gyan Ko Urut" by covering various dimensions of art from music to poetry, live painting. 

Four months ago, a similar festival was held in Kathmandu - Nepal International Human Rights Festival. The 12th edition of the festival saw films like 'All We Imagine as Light' by Indian director Payal Kapadia. Meanwhile, Film South Asia (ASA) invited South Asian documentary-makers to Kathmandu and showed powerful stories that are close to human life. Now waiting for Kathmandu Kimf (Kathmandu Mountain Film Festival). 

In Nepal, 'KIMF', 'NIF', 'FSA' and 'Human Rights Film Festival' are actively organized festivals. Apart from this, there are many film festivals. However, these are some of the major festivals mentioned above, which have been sustaining themselves for a long time and maintaining the reputation of the festival as well. All these four festivals have their own flavor and their own specific purpose. 

'Film South Asia' is considered the best festival in South Asia for documentaries. 'KIMF' has become a place to celebrate the stories related to the Himalayas and the Himalayas. "Nepal Human Rights International Film Festival" shows films dealing with aspects of human rights and raising issues of human rights. 'Nif' continues to try to connect the entire Nepali film industry by covering mainstream films. 

These festivals, full of diversity, are held in Kathmandu every year, sparking different debates and releasing films of a new taste. The film festival has been organized for years, but what are the organizers of the festival trying to do? After all, what is the need and importance of this for the Nepali society that enjoys the songs that go viral every day, gets entangled in anecdotes and gets involved in big issues? Even without the festival, Kathmandu is colorful, they are enjoying themselves saying 'where have you been'. In such a situation, why do you have to keep showing films, bringing together the audience, films and film crews from home and abroad? Are the festivals especially necessary or are they now compulsory? 

Meen Bham, the director of the film 'Shambala' thinks that the festival will be very important not only for the filmmakers but also for the general audience. "Festivals are platforms where we get to watch films, short films that are not playing in theaters and are not accessible. It increases our visual literacy, exchange of culture. Where is the world cinema? Festivals are also needed to get the study experience and feel of it," says Bham. "For us filmmakers, festivals are a place of learning and understanding. The experience shared by the filmmakers of the world at the festivals adds enthusiasm to the young filmmakers.' 

Ramita Limbu, director of 'KIMF', says that a festival is needed to make Kathmandu known as a cultural hub. Being a festival is also a cultural exchange. Therefore, the government organizes festivals in different countries. Therefore, we need a platform that preserves identity, art, culture and originality," Limbu says. "Festivals also exchange ideas. That's why the festival is necessary.'

According to Meen, such festivals allow filmmakers to show their films to domestic audiences. This time he showed 'Shambala' in 'Nif'. The audience who did not reach the hall and did not get to see the film lost 'Shambala' at the festival. There is no medium and market for showing short films in Nepal. Those making short films also get a chance to show their films to domestic audiences through the festival. "Sakshi Rukh", which toured various festivals, got a domestic audience for the first time in "Nif". Before that, foreign audiences watched the film, but this short film, which carries the story of Nepali soil, was not shown to Nepali audiences. In that sense, Bham believes that the festival is necessary to see films that are not shown in the halls and are not accessible to the audience. 

After all, watching a movie is to understand the society and culture, it is also to look forward to building a beautiful society while finding weaknesses. Documentaries are also not shown in halls in Nepal. So watching or showing short films and documentaries is a must festival. An award given on such a platform gives encouragement and support to filmmakers,” says Meen. Director Niranjan Vetuwal, who won two awards for 'Sakshi Rukh', was surprised to see his film among the Nepali audience. We need such a film festival not only in Nepal, but all over the world. North Korea also has a film festival. Such a festival is also needed for tourism. This is a powerful way to introduce Nepal,' he says, needing the Pisces Festival. 

To give a platform to the young audience, 'KIMF' started 'Nepal Panorama' in 2008. Be it Meen's 'Basulli' or Deepak Rauniyar's 'Chaukathi', 'Kimf' became a platform to bring these filmmakers who have reached the global market to the domestic audience. Such a platform gives Ramita a platform for young filmmakers. Watching the films in this genre, you can see the society and the whole of Nepal at that time. Young generation filmmakers get to show their work through this genre," says Ramita.

NIF President KP Pathak says the festival is essential for everyone who makes, sells and watches films. The festival is not only for watching films, but also for making them. Film is a powerful means of understanding the world. Therefore, the festival helps the general audience to understand the cultural-economic aspect of a country. Festivals are also necessary to keep the film market running,” says KP. Dayahang Rai, the director of 'Niffest', says, 'Festivals are necessary to learn and understand from each other's experience and knowledge.  In the opinion of

film director Acharya Gopal, film festivals can be used to watch movies from all over the world,  It is a platform where the experiences of filmmakers can be heard. Film festivals should be more and more.

festivals are especially important platforms for short films. Good short filmmakers brand themselves through the festival and set the journey of feature films,' says Gopal, 'Festivals are creating the atmosphere for good makers to reach the mass audience.' Gopal has written/directed two short films and half a dozen documentaries. 

Money vs. Passion 

Festivals that show films from many countries together require huge expenses. Irony! Film festivals are run on a shoestring budget. When organizing a festival, organizers are in a rush to raise financial resources. His focus is on festival quality and money management rather than film selection. Even though the state does not understand the importance of art and culture, such festivals are being conducted with the passion of Zenten organizers, says Ramita, director of 'KIMF'.

As the government in developed countries understands the importance, here it is not given importance. They respect art. Perhaps poverty alleviation is more important than art for underdeveloped countries. And what will happen to him by such a festival. But how does the festival bring about a change in opinion? It is not easy to see how the films shown there will transform the society. That's why the state has not understood its importance,' says Ramita. 

Director of 'Nepal International Human Rights Film Festival' Pandav Khatri's statement is similar to Ramita's. It is a very big challenge to do art work here. No required resources. The government of Nepal is also not interested. So there is a challenge,' says Pandav. 

Seeing that the festivals are struggling with the lack of financial resources, Pisces also thinks - how long will these festivals take place?  Meen's experience says that the festival is being run only because of the personal interest and time of the people involved in the

festival. Meen says that related bodies like the Film Development Board, Tourism Board, Ministry of Communications or Kathmandu Metropolitan City should play a strong role in the operation of the festival.

'This kind of festival can survive only if the relevant bodies support it,' says Meen. Bham is of the opinion that Nepali Mahotsav can be broadened with many genres of panel discussion from 'Script Lab', 'Talent' to 'Market' which are being held at the global level if the government invests. He says, "If the CSR of the private sector had come, the festival would have become more extensive."  How many challenges are there in the

festival? In Nepal, there is also a lack of a good hall to show movies with a large audience. This time privately established Halls partnered with NIF. So most of Niff's films were seen in QFX halls. But, in what hall should you watch the films of other festivals? Are the auditoriums, tourism board or film development board halls technically capable of showing world-class films? KP Pathak says, "We don't have a venue where films can be shown in the same quality as the filmmakers have made." 

In the meantime, due to lack of finances, festivals such as 'Tribal-Janjati Film Festival', 'Ekadeshma' and others disappeared in between. Ekadeshma Festival was a festival showing a very strong presence in short films. It is a pity that the tribal festival could not continue,' says Vasant Thapa, a writer who has been running 'KIMF' under the Himal Association for a long time, 'Especially this kind of different festival should have been held. There should be film festivals related to environment, youth to children and animation, which will continue to energize the filmmakers.'  The change brought about by the

debate  The importance of the

festival is also shown by the interactive debates held there. Such debates of the festival lead to thoughts and discussions on the complex issues of the society. The ability to change the consciousness and thoughts of the society is found in these debates. This year, 'Nitfest' started a debate to raise questions at the policy level. Explaining the need of art and festival, those at the political level were made to understand its importance. 'Nif' sparked a debate on the problems related to film, the beauty of art and the beauty of art. The festival also plays a role in social change through debates. 

In the 1980s, sexuality and minority issues were viewed very negatively. Similar platforms have brought that topic into debate. Director Naveen Subba says that we have an interactive program on the same old topic. Film festival is going on. However, Nepali film festivals are not developing as they should. It has not been able to contribute to world films and Nepali films. It may have happened because of budget constraints or the policy objectives of the government or because of the lack of vision of the organizers," says Subba, adding, "The festival is now in its 10th, 15th year. However, what happened in one year will be repeated again the next year.'  Meen's analysis is that the discussion program of the

festival is limited. In this kind of discussion, we can learn from each other's feelings and experiences. But such discussion has been very little, should be much more. We now have a festival centered on Kathmandu, focusing on the same kind of debate 

,' argues Meen, 'in terms of tourism, I see the need for such a discussion in places where cinema has great potential, such as Madhesh. The life of Madhesh is also not in the film. By going to places with so many visitors and being able to show the film and discuss it, the audience's visual literacy would increase. Foreign filmmakers could also be attracted to make films on their language and culture.'

destination   The

festival should be bigger. Kathmandu should have been identified as a powerful hub of importance in South Asia. The world market should have been attracted to Nepal's festival. However, we are failing to do so. Like, the Nepal Human Rights Film Festival screened Payal Kapadia's All We Imagine as Light, which was exemplary. Such films increase 'film literacy' among the general audience. However, Nepal's festivals are not able to bring world-class films and filmmakers. 

This year, Berlin managed to hold the world premiere of the film 'Mickey 17' by 'Parasite' director Bongjun Ho. Screened films by world famous directors from Bong to Hong Sang Soo, Richard Linklater. Films like Timothy Samlett's 'A Complete Unknown' to Richard's 'Bluemoon' and world famous stars Robert Pattinson, Ethan Hawke, Tilda Swinton and others walked on the red carpet. Film festival of Nepal is not able to attract Anmol KC, Pradeep Khadka, Priyanka Karki. When will Nepal's Mahotsav show Bong's films? When to attract actors and producers from famous directors of the world?

Meen is of the opinion that famous directors and producers could not be connected to the Nepali festival by relying on open applications. Sometimes filmmakers are also attracted by the amount of awards. Apart from the open application, the selected film could be shown in Cannes, Venice, Berlin on its own initiative. If that were the case, they would have been attracted to our festival, "Meen said, "We are missing out on collaborating with other festivals that look like us and have the same concept." 

KP Pathak's experience says that due to financial resources, the films of the world have not been brought to the festival yet. When trying to bring films from the world, they ask for screening fees. How to spend such expenses when you are struggling for the expenses of organizing the festival?'' he says. Basant Thapa has the experience that it is not easy to do a festival. "Support doesn't come from anywhere as it is said in the festival. Patke helps even if someone is doing it. A similar challenge was faced. The government does not help at all. Organizing a festival is a very difficult task. If there was a certain source, it would have been said, let's invite guests like this, let's make a plan like this. It is not certain which program to do even till the last time, all the programs require expenses. We have been doing the festival in the same uncertainty," Thapa said.  Festivals in Nepal are also weak in the market where

films are bought and sold. World-renowned film festivals have separate film buying and selling markets, where filmmakers can buy and sell their films. This type of platform is also active in India. World-class filmmakers, producers and directors are invited to such a market. By showing a film under production, filmmakers can find a market for their film or even find investment for the film. NIF could also invite some foreign filmmakers who have finished editing in Nepal and are waiting for the festival to connect the film with the market. If we could keep such a genre, the chances of those films being sold in the world market would increase,' says Bham. 

Nepali festival has not been able to get a wider audience. While Berlin, Cannes, Venice, Locarno and Busan have gathered stakeholders related to the 20th thousand films, the Nepali festival is not even able to aim for the 10th thousand. Director Ganeshdev Pandey is of the opinion that Nepali festivals fail to bring together Nepali filmmakers in one place. When the festival is held in Nepal, we only know from the news. Such festivals do not increase access to filmmakers like us. We should be able to connect the filmmakers who are in Swadesham!, Pandey said.