This year the film festival will showcase 20 feature length, shorts and documentaries from Nepal and around the world.
Washington DC, TUESDAY APRIL 4th 2017 - Nepal America Film Society (NAFS), a 501(c) non-profit organization, is proud to present the first ever Nepal America International Film Festival (NAIFF) from May 5th through May 7th 2017. The phenomenal film festival is taking place at Hoff Theater - Stamp Student Union - University of Maryland - Collage Park, AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center - American Film Institute, Silver Spring, and Horizon Cinemas Beltway Plaza, Nottingham, MD. The festival will commence with a Red Carpet VIP Gala event followed by the Premiere of the internationally acclaimed film - WHITE SUN (Seto Surya) directed by Deepak Rauniyar.
The movie has won several accolades in Venice International Film Festival, Singapore International Film Festival, and Palm Springs International Film Festival, and has been praised in numerous reputed international film festivals. The closing of the festival will also feature a Red Carpet VIP Gala event followed by screening of the film BLACK HEN (Kalo Pothi) - directed by Min Bahadir Bham. The film, in Venice Film Festival, won the Critics Week award and has participated in other reputed film festivals around the world. BLACK HEN was also selected for the Foreign-Language Category at Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (The Oscars). This year the film festival will showcase 20 feature length, shorts and documentaries from Nepal and around the world.
The Film Society strongly believes that cinema represents the most powerful medium for portraying diverse stories of the various communities around the world. Cinema provides a unique opportunity to understand the cultural diversity and connects the world – without the barrier of language.
Opening Film with Red Carpet | WHITE SUN

About The Film Festival
Our goal is to organize the festival annually by collaborating with various Nepali diaspora community organizations, personalities and other cinematic organizations from the United States and Nepal. The film festival will showcase all genres of films including feature length films, documentaries, animation, experimental and shorts.
The main focus of this year’s event is on films from Nepal, by the Nepali and non-Nepali filmmakers, under the Nepal Panorama section. We will also feature numerous internationally acclaimed documentaries and shorts from around the world. The principal objective of the event is to bridge the gap between the Nepali and American culture by the means cinema. Therefore, we will also be promoting films made by the Nepali diaspora filmmakers in the U.S.
Screening will be followed by Q&A sessions with filmmakers and artists featured at the festival. We are also organizing panel discussions and workshops for a deeper insight into the highlighted issues and stories. Films participating in the festival will be recognized by tokens of appreciation, and we will also be distributing awards based on various categories, with the help of a committee of judges.
Nepal American Film Festival

FESTIVAL PROGRAM
Opening Ceremony at the Hoff Theater - Stamp Student Union - University of Maryland:
The festival will commence with the Red Carpet Gala Event followed by the opening ceremony and the screening of White Sun (Seto Surya). The festival will be opened by special guests and dignitaries from Embassies and other cultural organizations. We will recognize all the invited artist, filmmakers, guests, Nepali diaspora community leaders, entrepreneur, and invited local organizations’ leaders.
Film Screenings at the Hoff Theater - Stamp Student Union - University of Maryland, and Horizon Cinemas Beltway Plaza, Nottingham, Maryland :
During the festival, we will organize film screening with Q&A and panel discussion. We will screen films from Nepal by the Nepali and non-Nepali filmmakers under the Nepal Panorama section. Films made in South Asia, America and other parts of the world will be screened under the International cinema section. We are also proud to announce Global Peace Film Festival's Sidebar section.
Closing Ceremony at the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center - American Film Institute, Silver Spring, Maryland:
The final day of the festival will commence with a Red Carpet Gala Event and Award Ceremony, followed by the closing film – Black Hen (Kalo Pothi). Films selected by juries will be awarded and the participating films will be recognized in the closing ceremony. Certificate and recognition will be awarded for all the volunteers and supporters. Certificate and recognition will be awarded for all the volunteers and supporters.
REQUEST TO ALL VALUABLE GUESTS
NAIFF will make history! It is the first Film Festival in the DMV area to unite the talented Nepalese and International filmmakers. This is also an enormous opportunity for all of our guests to experience the beauty of Nepalese and International Informative Cinema, and to interact with the talented filmmakers behind the scenes. We request all our guests to come and support this noble deed. For updates and tickets please visit our website - www.nafilmsociety.org
FESTIVAL LINEUP
OPENING FILM:
WHITE SUN (SETO SURYA) | Genre: Drama | Country: Nepal | Runtime: 90 Min | Director: Deepak Rauniyar | Language(s): Nepali | Subtitles: English
CLOSING FILM:
BLACK HEN (KALO POTHI) | Genre: Drama | Country: Nepal | Runtime: 90 Mins | Director: Min Bahadur Bham | Language(s): Nepali | Subtitles: English
LOOKING BACK AT NEPALI CINEMA:
NUMAFUNG | Genre: Drama | Country: Nepal | Runtime: 108 Mins | Director: Nabin Subba | Language(s): Nepali | Subtitles: English
MASK OF DESIRE (MUKUNDO) | Genre: Drama | Country: Nepal | Runtime: 138 Mins | Director: Tsering Rhitar Sherpa | Language(s): Nepali | Subtitles: English
NEPAL PANORAMA
SERDHAK – THE GOLDEN HILL | Genre: Drama | Country: Nepal | Runtime: 74 Mins | Director: Rajan Kathet | Language(s): Nepali | Subtitles: English
DANCE OF THE ORCHIDS (SOONGAVA) | Genre: Drama | Country: Nepal | Runtime: 85 Mins | Director: Subarna Thapa | Language(s): Nepali | Subtitles: English
IN SEARCH OF DEVAKI | Genre: Documentary | Country: Nepal | Runtime: 45 Mins | Director: Devaki Bist | Language(s): Nepali and Doteli | Subtitles: English
TASHI’S TURBAN | Genre: Documentary, Adventure | Country: USA | Runtime: 52 Mins | Director: Amitabh Joshi | Language(s): Nepali | Subtitles: English
Earthquake: Heroes, Survivors and Miracles (BHAGYA LE BACHEKA HARU) | Genre: Documentary | Country: Nepal | Runtime: 50 Mins | Director: Ganesh Panday | Language(s): Nepali | Subtitles: English
JOURNEY TO BARCA | Genre: Short | Country: USA | Runtime: 29 Min | Director: Kiran Marahatta | Language(s): Nepali | Subtitles: English
INTERNATIONAL FILMS
URMILA: MY MEMORY IS MY POWER | Genre: Documentary, Biography Country: USA | Runtime: 87 Mins | Director: Susan Gluth | Language(s): English and Nepali | Subtitles: English
SHERPA STEW | Genre: Documentary | Country: USA | Runtime: 82 Mins | Director: Andy Cockrum | Language(s): Nepali | Subtitles: English
MUSTANG: SECRETS BEYOND THE HIMALAYAS | Genre: Documem ap anntary | Country: USA | Runtime: 90 Mins | Director: Jaswant Dev Shrestha | Language(s): Nepali | Subtitles: English
THE REFUGEES OF SHANGRI-LA | Genre: Documentary | Country: USA, Nepal, Bhutan | Runtime: 55 Mins | Director: Doria Bramante, Markus Weinfurter | Language(s): English | Subtitles: English
SHORT FILMS
DADYAA | Genre: Short | Country: Nepal | Runtime: 17 Mins | Director: Bibhusan Basnet, Pooja Gurung | Language(s): Khas | Subtitles: English
THE SHAME (LAAZ) | Genre: Short | Country: Nepal | Runtime: 20 Mins Director: Sushan Prajapati | Language(s): Nepali, Tharu | Subtitles: English
ACRES OF DIAMONDS | Genre: Documentary | Country: USA/India | Runtime: 21 min | Director: Shawn Small | Language(s): Hindi and English | Subtitles: English
MY CLAIRE | Genre: Short | Country: USA | Runtime: 15 Mins | Director: Rajendra Thakurathi | Language(s): Nepali | Subtitles: English
GLOBAL PEACE FILM FESTIVAL SIDEBAR
THE DEPORTATION OF INNOCENCE | Genre: Documentary | Country: Nepal | Runtime: 48 mins | Director: Francisco Alarcón | Language(s): Mexico, USA | Subtitles: English
UNDER THE SAME SUN (EK SURYA KE TALE) | Genre: Drama | Country: Canda/India | Runtime: 92 mins | Director: Mitra Sen | Language(s): Hindi | Subtitles: English