Kathmandu to host Licchavi Cinema Festival showcasing global and Nepali films

Kathmandu will host the first edition of the Licchavi Cinema Festival from September 11 to 15, 2026, at QFX Cinemas in Chhaya Centre. The event promises a curated selection of feature films, bridging contemporary Asian cinema with significant works from global cinematic traditions.

The festival is an initiative of Licchavi House, reflecting its dedication to cinema and cultural exchange, and filmmaker Khyentse Norbu's deep ties to Nepal. The inaugural program features films from Nepal, Bhutan, India, Pakistan, Thailand, France, Germany, Japan, and Russia, including acclaimed titles by directors such as Andrei Tarkovsky, Payal Kapadia, and Khyentse Norbu himself.

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What we are doing with this first edition is placing our own cinema in conversation with the world.

Festival curator Abishek Budhathoki emphasized the festival's goal to place Nepali cinema in a global context. "What we are doing with this first edition is placing our own cinema in conversation with the world," he stated. Budhathoki also highlighted the accessibility of cinema, adding, "Cinema literacy is not a specialist skill. It belongs to any audience willing to engage."

The festival adopts the Garuda as its emblem, a figure from Buddhist and Hindu traditions known as a protector and messenger that traverses different realms. This symbolism represents the festival's mission to safeguard and disseminate cinematic heritage to a wider audience. The event is supported by the Kathmandu Metropolitan City and the European Union.

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Cinema literacy is not a specialist skill. It belongs to any audience willing to engage. We envision Licchavi Cinema to be part of that growth, and open to anyone who wants in.