Kathmandu: The 2nd edition of the Queer Film Festival Kathmandu (QFFK) officially began on January 19 at Airawat Picture House (Educational Hall) in Thapathali, bringing a diverse collection of queer-themed films to Nepali audiences.
The 10-day festival features more than 170 films from around the world that address issues related to gender and sexual minority communities. The selected films were curated from over 800 submissions globally, with emphasis on their relevance to Nepal’s social context and contemporary realities.
The films explore the lived experiences, as well as the social and political realities, of queer individuals across different societies. The primary objective of the festival is to promote respect, solidarity, and understanding toward people whose sexual identities and gender expressions differ from socially prescribed norms.
“In the context of Nepal, mainstream cinema and film festivals have not provided adequate space for gender diversity and queer narratives. This gap made it necessary to create an alternative platform like the Queer Film Festival Kathmandu,” said Jyotsna Maskey, Co-Director of QFFK.
Beyond showcasing films, the festival aims to bridge the gap between the queer community and the wider public by fostering dialogue and awareness around issues of diversity, sexuality, and gender identity. According to the organizing committee, the festival contributes to building a more inclusive society where everyone feels a sense of belonging.
The festival will continue until January 24, with screenings taking place at the Airawat Picture House (Microcinema Auditorium). Organized by Docskool, the festival has also marked the opening of this microcinema space, created to address the lack of screening venues for independent and alternative films in Nepal.
“Many high-quality films from Nepal are screened at prestigious international film festivals, but often struggle to find venues within the country. We opened this microcinema auditorium to ensure such films can be shown to Nepali audiences. With this year’s Queer Film Festival Kathmandu, we have officially brought this space into use,” said Kshitij Adhiraj, Co-Director of QFFK and Founder Director of Docskool.
