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The 13th Nepal Africa International Film Festival–2025, which began on Friday, concluded on Sunday evening after presenting awards in 31 categories.
The festival was organized at the Nepal Tourism Board in Bhrikutimandap, Kathmandu, by the College of Journalism and Mass Communication and Bilakshan Creation Pvt. Ltd., in collaboration with the Film Development Board.
Over three days, films were screened, and outstanding films and filmmakers were honored with awards. A total of 49 films from 17 countries, including Nepal, participated in the festival.
The closing ceremony, chaired by festival president Dr. Manju Mishra, had the presence of the Minister of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, Badri Prasad Pandey, as the chief guest. Both national and international winners were awarded at the event.
In the festival, the award for the Best African Feature Film went to Good Mother from South Africa, while the Best African Documentary award was won by Zayed from Cameroon. The Best International Documentary award went to Looney Tunes, directed by Devendra Jadhav from India, and the Best International Feature Film award was given to Sauda from Bangladesh.
The Special Mention Award for International Short Film went to Gent Puppets for Dignified Menstruations from the UK, and the International Jury Award was won by The Temple of Eternal Sound, a short documentary from Argentina.
The jury panel for the international category included Catherine Sophianos from South Africa, Ankit Bagchi from India, Sahadat Russell from Bangladesh, and Nepali filmmaker, director, and actress Roshani KC.
A total of 30 Nepali films participated in the festival, out of which seven were feature films. The Best National Feature Film award was won by Chhakka Panja 5. From the same film, the Jury Award for Best Director was given to Deepa Shree Niraula, and the Best Supporting Actor award went to Kedar Prasad Ghimire. The Best Director award was given to Shankar Ghimire for Tel Bhisa, while the Best Actor award was won by Bipin Karki for the same film. Tel Bhisa also bagged the Best Supporting Actress award, which was won by Richa Ghimire.
In the feature film category, the Special Mention Award went to Rishiraj Acharya for Draupadi, while the Jury Award for acting was given to actress Ashwini Shahi for the same film. The Best Actress award was won by Barsha Raut for Aincho Paincho, and Best Debut Director was awarded to Krisha Chaulagain for the same film. The Best New Actress award was given to Anushka Budhathoki for Sankalpa, while Best Music Composer was awarded to Hercules Basnet for the song Khula Aakash from London to Paris.
The jury panel for the feature film category included director Milan Chams, journalist Raghunath Sapkota, and singer Shobha Pandey.
Similarly, in the national category, the Best Short Film award was given to The Tree Man by Santosh Subedi. The Best Acting in a Short Film award was won by Kripa Pyakurel for No Smoking Please, while the Special Mention Award went to Bhupendra Kumar Khadka for the same film.
In the musical short film category, the Best Director award was won by Sonam Pakhrin for Timi Aansu Rahechau, and the Best Actor in a Musical Film award went to Sanam Kathayat for Bhoolnai Garo Bho. Actress Pabitra Shankhi (Miss Pabi) won the Best Actress in a Musical Film award for the same film. The Best Singer in a Musical Film award was given to Hemant Shishir for Juni Katmala, while the Best Dance Choreographer in a Musical Short Film award was won by Rabita Magar for Think About You.
The Best Documentary and Best Director awards were both given to Shiv Puri for Designed to Disappear. He also won the Best Editor award for the same documentary.
The Best Indigenous Film award was won by K2, directed by Sagar Kerung, while the Best Student Short Film award was given to Mohan Abhilashi for The School Wall.
The jury panel for this category included actor and model Sagar Lamsal Chhetri, video editor Rabin Bik, singer Sujata KC, and singer Rudra Shekhar Sharma.
Additionally, this year’s Film Journalism Award was presented to journalist Bishnu Prasad Subedi from Lens Nepal.
The closing ceremony was attended by special guests, including Nepal’s Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Dr. Purna Nepali; National Assembly members Jag Prasad Sharma and Sita Baudel; President of the International Journalists’ Federation, Ram Prasad Khanal; President of the Nepal Film Artists’ Association, Mohan Niroula; former president Krishna Malla; Rabindra Khadka; and GIZ Program Manager Dr. Bernhard Alpt, among others, who honored the award-winning filmmakers.
