NAIFF Unveils 2026 Lineup

MARYLAND 2026 | NAIFF — The Nepal America International Film Festival of Maryland, organized annually by the Nepal America Film Society, has announced the lineup for its 2026 edition.

The lineup includes acclaimed films such as Shape of Momo (Busan award winner, 2025), directed by Tribeny Rai; Shakti, directed by Nani Sahra Walker (recognized at various international film festivals); and Have You Seen My God? (2025), directed by Nepali American filmmaker Amitabh Joshi; along with many other remarkable films from around the world.

NAIFF 2026 is set to take place from June 25 to June 28 at the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center in Silver Spring and at the Greenbelt Cinema in Greenbelt. This year’s edition will screen a total of 38 films from 11 countries, including both shorts and feature-length works. The films were selected by a selection committee comprising filmmakers and film scholars from Nepal and the United States.

Shape of Momo is slated to open NAIFF 2026 on June 25 at the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center, following a red-carpet event that will feature special guests and attending filmmakers. The festival will close at the same venue on June 28 with a screening of Shakti, following another red-carpet event and followed by an awards ceremony.

As part of the Global Peace Film Festival sidebar, NAIFF 2026 will also present Abraham’s Bridge, directed by Elinor Pierce , and Making Waves: The Rise of Asian America, directed by Jon Osaki. The DMV Close-Up section will feature regional films, including Shattered Silence: Imitation of a Perfect Life, directed by Maryland-based filmmaker Jimmie Lee Ward Jr.

In addition to screenings, the festival will include conversations with filmmakers, a roundtable discussion, a masterclass on filmmaking, and various community events at the Brentwood Arts

Exchange gallery in Brentwood, Maryland. The festival is supported by the Prince George’s Arts and Humanities Council, by Maryland Humanities, and other valued partners.

Opening Film

1. Shape of Momo | 114 min | India | Dir.Tribeny Rai

Closing FIlm

2. Shakti | 95 min | Nepal | Dir. Nani Sahra Walker

Saturday Film

3. Have You Seen My God? | 60 min | USA/Nepal | Amitabh Joshi

Global Peace Film Festival — SideBar Section

4. Abraham’s Bridge | 36 min | USA | Dir. Elinor Pierce

5. Making Waves: The Rise of Asian America | 57 min | USA | Dir. Jon Osaki

Feature

6. Always | 84 min | China | Dir. Demin CHEN

7. Crawling Crows (Aankha) | 109 min | Nepal | Dir. Zaun Yonzan

8. Life of a Phallus (Thanthapperu) | 107 min | India | Dir. Unnikrishnan Avala

9. Mama | 95 min | Ecuador | Dir. Ana Cristina Benitez

10. Naima | 98 min | Switzerland | Dir. Anna Thommen

11. The Fabulous Gold Harvesting Machine | 77 min | Chile | Dir. Alfredo Pourailly De La Plaza

12. This is Ballroom | 92 min | Brazil | Dir. Juru and Vitã

DMV Close-up