The Nepal America International Film Festival 2024, organized by the Nepal America Film Society based in Maryland, concluded with a Closing Night Awards Ceremony at the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center. Distinguished guests from Nepal, including actor Dayahang Rai and director Nabin Subba, graced the event alongside Phil Davis, Countywide Arts Coordinator at the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission.
The festival, held from June 20 to June 23 at both the AFI Silver Theatre in Silver Spring and Greenbelt Cinema in Greenbelt, Maryland, featured a diverse lineup of 35 films from 11 countries, comprising both shorts and feature films. The festival opened with Nabin Subba’s ‘A Road to a Village’ and closed with Fidel Devkota’s ‘The Red Suitcase.’ These opening and closing films were showcased outside the competitive segment.
Among the festival’s highlights was a panel discussion titled ‘Women’s Impact on Entertainment,’ featuring Tia A. Smith, an award-winning executive producer and director, and Melissa Houghton, Executive Director at Women in Film & Video. Additionally, a masterclass on Ethnographic, Documentary, and Participatory Filmmaking was conducted by Professor Michael Brown from the University of South Wales, UK, at Brentwood Arts Exchange.
The festival jury, comprising Deepak Rauniyar, Michael Brown, Nina Streich, and Rebecca Bustamante, selected the winners and special jury mentions for 2024. The awarded films and honorees are as follows:
JURY AWARD SHORT:
- Remnants [Nepal]– Winner | Director: Dhanraj Barkote
JURY AWARD FEATURE:
- Mom [Mexico] -Winner | Director: Xun Sero
EMPOWERMENT AWARD:
- Wakhri [Pakistan/USA]– Winner | Director: Iram Parveen Bilal
BEST DMV CLOSEUP:
- Mera Daddu (My Grandpa) [India/US]– Winner | Director: Sri Mirajkar
BEST SHORT DOCUMENTARY:
- No Monastery No Village [Nepal]– Winner | Director: Tashi Lhazam
BEST FEATURE DOCUMENTARY:
- No Winter Holidays [Nepal]– Winner | Director: Rajan Kathet and Sunir Pandey
BEST SHORT NARRATIVE:
- Sanai [Nepal] -Winner | Director: Akanchha Karki
BEST SHORT INTERNATIONAL
- Nyanga [Mexico] — Winner | Director: Medhin Tewolde Serrano
BEST SHORT NEPALI PANORAMA:
- Dhye Dreams [Nepal] — Winner | Director: Shanta Nepali
BEST FEATURE INTERNATIONAL:
- Parvin [Iran]– Winner | Director: Mirabbas Khosravinezhad