Nepal to Host First-Ever Poetry Film Festival in 2026

Kathmandu, Dec 22 — Nepal is set to host its first Poetry Film Festival in 2026, as the Himalayan Literature Festival & Writers Workshop (HLF–WWK) announced the launch of the unique cinematic event dedicated to literature and poetry.

The Poetry Film Festival will be organized as part of HLF–WWK 2026, scheduled to take place in Kathmandu from May 29 to June 5, 2026. The festival will exclusively feature films inspired by poetry and literary traditions, highlighting lyrical, narrative, and experimental works where language, rhythm, and imagination play a central role in storytelling.

The initiative represents a major expansion of HLF–WWK’s long-standing commitment to encouraging dialogue between different art forms, particularly literature and cinema.

A global call for submissions has already been opened, inviting filmmakers, writers, artists, and directors from around the world to submit works with strong literary or poetic foundations. Eligible entries include short poetry films, literary adaptations, adapted screenplays, biographical or documentary films on poets and writers, as well as feature-length films rooted in literary or poetic traditions. The festival is also encouraging interdisciplinary and experimental projects that blend poetry, prose, cinema, performance, and visual arts.

Selected films will be screened during HLF–WWK 2026 in collaboration with cultural and educational institutions in Nepal and internationally. The jury panel for the festival includes Irish filmmaker Peter Salisbury, Hollywood composer Chad Cannon, and British director Stephan Bookas.

An award for Best Film will be presented, and the deadline for submissions is March 15, 2026.

Commenting on the launch, HLF Director Srijana Bhandari said the new festival reflects the organization’s evolving vision. “As the festival enters a new phase of growth, HLF–WWK remains committed to fostering dialogue across languages, nations, and art forms. The Poetry Film Festival brings this vision into the realm of cinema,” she said.

Amar Akash, Nepal coordinator of the festival and a film critic, said the platform would not only celebrate literature but also help establish a new tradition of reinterpreting poetry through film.

Now in its second edition, the Himalayan Literature Festival & Writers Workshop continues to provide an international platform for writers, poets, scholars, artists, and thinkers, promoting literary exchange and cultural dialogue across South Asia and beyond.