NAIFF — Nepal America International Film Festival of Maryland, organized by the Nepal America Film Society, is set to take place from 22-25 June 2023 at the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center and Old Greenbelt Theater in Maryland. The festival showcases all genres of films, including feature-length, documentaries, animation, experimental, and shorts from Nepal, America, South Asia, and all over the world.

The festival has announced the lineup for its 2023 festival. It includes debut features from writer-directors Saim Sadiq (Joyland, Pakistan) and Sujit Bidari (Butterfly on a Windowpane, Nepal).

This year’s festival will also feature two films as part of the Global Peace Film Festival Sidebar — ‘Barry Farm: Community, Land, and Justice in Washington DC’ directed by Sam George, and ‘World Peace and Other 4th Grade Achievements’ directed by Chris Farina.

Short film ‘Lori,’ directed by Abinash Bikram Shah and awarded a Special Mention at the 75th Cannes Film Festival, and director Deepak Rauniyar’s short film ‘Four Nights,’ will also be featured in the festival.

Nepal’s official submission for the Best International Feature Film to the 95th Academy Awards, Butterfly On A Windowpane, will open this year’s festival on Thursday, June 22, at the AFI Silver Theater. The screening will follow a red-carpet event featuring guests and filmmakers. The closing night at the same venue on Sunday, June 26, will screen ‘PASANG: In the Shadow of Everest’ directed by Nancy Svendsen.

Throughout the festival, a variety of events supported by the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission will take place, including talk programs and panel discussions at Brentwood Arts Exchange.