Naresh Kumar KC’s directorial feature film ‘Dying Candle’ bagged ‘Best Feature Film’ and ‘Best Director’ at Nepal International Film Festival (NIFF) on Monday.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, Ishwor Pokharel handed over the award and Rs 50,000 cash prize to the team amidst the concluding event of NIFF. Both the awards were received by the producer of the film, Rabin Acharya.

Prior to these awards, Dying Candle was awarded the 'Best Cinematography Award' at ‘International Singapore South Asian Film Festival’ and ‘Queens World Festival' held in New York.

Likewise, Shivam Adhikari’s directorial film ‘Panchayat’ won Best Screen Film Award. Short film ‘Meen Alaap’, directed by Subarna Senjutee Tushi won Best Documentary Award under the international short film category. The short film also won Mount Everest Award with cash prize of $500.

Under the Nepali Panaroma category, Shelnang Gyamjo Tamang’s directed short film ‘Supermonk’ won the Best Nepali Short Film Award with the cash prize of Rs 25,000.

The jury members of the film festival included Nepali Film Director Nir Shah, Festival Adviser Premendra Mazumder, Beijing Film Academy Prof Liang Qiao and Programmer at Cannes Film Festival, Anne Delseth.

Amidst the festival, Best Storytelling Competition was organized. Diwas Aimgain from ‘Kashinath Katha’ and Sajan Lopchan from ‘Arko Katha’ were awarded with the cash prize of Rs 40,000.

“The festival was organized with an aim to motivate viewers and art lovers in order to unite for the preservation of art and culture,” confirmed KP Pathak, President at NIFF.