Kathmandu: The Himalayan Literature Festival and Writers Workshop (HLF-WWK) has announced the launch of Nepal’s first-ever Poetry Film Festival, scheduled to take place from 29 May to 5 June 2026 in Kathmandu. This event is dedicated exclusively to films rooted in literature and poetry, showcasing works where language, rhythm, and imagination shape the cinematic form.
According to National News Agency Nepal, the Poetry Film Festival will feature a global call for submissions, inviting filmmakers, writers, artists, and directors to present films with a strong literary or poetic foundation. Categories eligible for submission include short poetry films, literary adaptations and adapted screenplays, biographical or documentary films on poets and writers, and feature-length films grounded in literary or poetic traditions. The festival encourages interdisciplinary and experimental works that bridge poetry, prose, cinema, performance, and visual art.
Selected films will be screened during HLF-WWK 2026 in partnership with cultural and educational institutions both in Nepal and internationally. The jury panel for the festival will include Irish filmmaker Peter Salisbury, Hollywood composer Chad Cannon, and British director Stephan Bookas. An award for the Best Film of the festival will be presented, with submissions due by 15 March 2026.
Srijana Bhandari, Director of the Himalayan Literature Festival, expressed that as the festival grows, HLF-WWK remains dedicated to fostering dialogue across languages, nations, and art forms. The Poetry Film Festival aims to extend this vision into the realm of cinema. Amar Akash, Nepal Coordinator of the festival and film critic, emphasized that this new platform will honor literature while establishing a tradition of reimagining poetry on screen.
Now in its second edition, the Himalayan Literature Festival and Writers Workshop continues to serve as an international platform promoting literary exchange and cultural dialogue across South Asia and the world.