WINNERS at Nepal International Film Festival (NIFF) 2025!

On the occasion of the closing ceremony of the 8th Nepal International Film Festival (NIFF) 2025, held in the presence of national and international filmmakers and dignitaries, the festival announced its lineup of 18 award winners. The Nepali film Crawling Crows – Aankha, directed by Zaun Yonzan, received the Best National Feature Film Award, while the international feature Shambhala, directed by Min Bahadur Bham, was honored with the prestigious Gautama Buddha Award.

For the full list of award winners at NIFF 2025, please see below:

FEATURE FILM AWARDS

Gautama Buddha Award, Best International Narrative Feature
Shambhala
Directed by Min Bahadur Bham
Nepal

International Federation of Film Societies – Don Quixote Award for Best Feature Film
Rukmini
Directed by Nilay Prashant Raje
India

Best National Feature Film Awards

Best Feature Film
Crawling Crows – Aankha
Directed by Zaun Yonzan
Nepal

Best Director
Dinesh Raut
For the film Pujar Sarki

Best Screenwriter
Zaun Yonzan
For the film Crawling Crows – Aankha

Best Cinematographer
Rajesh Shrestha
For the film Pujar Sarki

Best Acting – Leading Role (Female)
Anjana Baraili
For the film Pujar Sarki

Best Acting – Leading Role (Male)
RK Mehta
For the film Crawling Crows – Aankha

SHORT & DOCUMENTARY AWARDS

Best National Short Film
The Witness Tree
Directed by Niranjan Raj Bhetwal
Nepal

Bagmati Award – Best International Short Film
Cura Sana
Directed by Lucía G. Romero
Spain

Best Director in a National Short Film
Nishan Khatri
For the film A Witness

Best National Documentary Film
Devi
Directed by Subina Shrestha
Nepal

Mt. Everest Award – Best International Documentary Film
On Melting Snow
Directed by Mojtaba Bahadori
Belgium

Manjushree Award – Best Artificial Intelligence Film
The Abyss
Directed by Andres Aloi
Argentina

AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARDS

Best Feature Film (Audience Choice)
Satidevi
Directed by Laxman Subedi

Best Short Film (Audience Choice)
The Witness Tree
Directed by Niranjan Raj Bhetwal

Best Documentary Film (Audience Choice)
Girls Rewriting Destiny
Directed by Lawa Pyakurel

Nepal International Film Festival 2025 concluded with a diverse showcase of global cinema, honoring powerful narratives and artistic excellence across genres.