Film Story Bank Competition
KATHMANDU, Nepal , The Karnali International Film Festival (KIFF) has extended the submission deadline for its ‘Film Story Bank’ competition, a flagship initiative of the festival’s third edition aimed at bringing original stories from Nepal’s remote Karnali region to the screen.
The new deadline for submissions is November 30, 2026 (Mangsir 14, 2083) Organized under the festival’s slogan, “Let’s Travel Karnali, Let’s See Karnali,” the competition seeks to identify original stories rooted in Karnali’s culture, traditions, history and contemporary social realities, while creating opportunities for emerging writers and creators to develop their work for cinema.
The festival secretariat said the deadline was extended following requests from writers and creators, particularly those living in remote parts of Karnali. Participants cited geographical challenges, professional commitments and the additional time required to develop their stories.
15 Stories to Be Selected
An expert jury will evaluate the submissions and select 15 outstanding stories through what organizers describe as a transparent selection process. The selected works will be preserved in KIFF’s Film Story Bank, while their authors will receive specialized training in screenplay writing.
The competition will award cash prizes to the top three entries:
- First prize: NPR 50,000
- Second prize: NPR 30,000
- Third prize: NPR 20,000
All three winners will also receive official certificates.
KIFF said it plans to bring together producers and directors from Nepal and abroad to explore the potential for developing commercially viable films from stories in the Film Story Bank. If a production deal is subsequently reached, the original writer will be entitled to appropriate commercial compensation, screen credit and consultation, subject to the terms of the production agreement.
Open to Nepali Citizens Worldwide
The competition is open to Nepali citizens of all age groups, whether living in Nepal or overseas. Participants are required to provide a copy of their Nepali citizenship certificate or another accepted identity document.
Submitted stories must be original, unpublished and written in Nepali, and must be substantially connected to the culture, traditions, history or social realities of Karnali.
Each submission must include a story title and a three- to five-line logline at the beginning. Entries must be prepared in Microsoft Word and contain either a synopsis of at least three pages or a detailed concept development of no more than seven pages.
Participants must submit their story together with an identity document and a signed permission letter to the festival’s official email addresses by November 30, 2026.
Results and Screenwriting Training
KIFF said the competition results will be announced on December 31, 2026 (Poush 16, 2083). The selected writers are scheduled to receive screenplay-writing training during the festival’s fourth edition.
The Film Story Bank forms part of KIFF’s broader effort to use cinema as a platform for cultural preservation, creative development and the promotion of Karnali. The festival has positioned film, tourism and climate change as key areas of its programming, with a focus on connecting Karnali’s cultural and natural heritage with wider national and international audiences.
The festival secretariat has invited storytellers to submit original works that can help bring the experiences, traditions, history and contemporary realities of Karnali to audiences through cinema.