3-days long International Indigenous Film Festival has started on June 12 in Assembly Hall, Kathmandu. Satya Mohan Joshi, an expert in history, inaugurated the 8th version of the festival by playing traditional musical instruments.

The first short movie to be featured in the festival was from Brazil, titled ‘Owner of the Water’. There are 12 movies, documentaries and music videos participating from Nepal. In total there are 36 films from 18 different countries including India, Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, Japan and Belgium.

The judges of the competition are experts from Japan, India and Nepal. The judge from Nepal is Anita Gurung, the Japanese judge is Nimo Guji Nawami and the Indian judge is G L Bharatdwaj. The best movie in the competition will win Rs. 15,000 and one producer will win Rs. 25,000.

In the opening ceremony Satya Mohan Joshi told that such festivals help in promoting the rights and the identity of indigenous people. Other speakers of the ceremony include the President of Federation of Nepal Indigenous Group, Nagendra Kumal  and the organizer of the festival Sanjog Lapha Magar. The festival wraps up on June 14.