Kathmandu, Feb. 21 -- Kathmandu's cinema aficionados better roll up their sleeves, as the Nepal International Film Festival starts today and the Nepal International Theatre Festival is just a few days away.

The purpose of the festival, contends festival chair KP Pathak, is "to bridge the gap between alternative and mainstream cinema, and to celebrate cinema as a medium of intellectual expression." Alongside screenings, the fest will also host panel discussions on a cross-section of issues, including 'Women in Cinema' and 'Challenges of the Nepali Film Industry' featuring industry stalwarts. There's also a tempting masterclass with Eric Valli, the French director who helmed 1999's Caravan, Nepal's only selection for the Oscars so far.

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