Chief Patron
Bhawani Rana
Chief Patron
A renowned tourism entrepreneur and former FNCCI President who brings strategic leadership and industry expertise to the festival.
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The people behind the vision
Advisory Board & Goodwill Ambassadors
Meet the filmmakers, cultural leaders, and changemakers helping Karnali International Film Festival bring mountain stories to the world.
Advisory Board
Advisor
Shiva Shrestha
Advisor
The Action King of Nepali cinema brings more than four decades of acting experience and a lasting connection to filmmakers.
Advisor
Dr. Mahendra Kumar Malla
Advisor
A scholar, writer, and former Registrar of Mid-Western University who connects programming with Karnali culture.
Goodwill Ambassadors
Actor · Goodwill Ambassador
Pradeep Khadka
Actor · Goodwill Ambassador
A leading star in Nepali cinema who champions Nepali films globally and inspires emerging filmmakers.
Actress · Goodwill Ambassador
Surakshya Panta
Actress · Goodwill Ambassador
An acclaimed actress and civil engineer who advocates for socially relevant and culturally grounded stories.
Festival Leadership
Festival Director
Chakra Bahadur Chand
Festival Director
With decades of experience in social impact and environmental advocacy, he leads the festival at the intersection of cinema and community.
Press Coordinator
Jiwan Parajuli
Press Coordinator
A respected film writer and critic who amplifies Nepali cinema and the festival’s conversations around storytelling.