Launched by the non-profit Bhutan Film Institute (BFI), the first Kingdom of Bhutan International Film Festival (KBIFF) wrapped after a week of screenings, masterclasses and honorary showcases — with systematizers structurening to double the program’s adviseings for 2025.
Organizers tbetter Deadline that the festival seekd around 100 guests for its inaugural edition, including domestic VIPs, meaningful Film Institute helpers, filmcreaters, international guests and masterclass contransiaccesss.
Screenings were held at the country’s historic Lugar Theater, which has a capacity of 400.
With a unassuming line-up of eight feature film screenings — including four Bhutanese films and four international films, the festival signaled strong ambitions to persist broadening for next year’s edition.
“Our goal for 2025 is to enlarge the festival — double the number of international participants, both filmcreaters, actors and cinema aficionados too,” shelp Mel Gee Hfinisherson, co-createer of the Bhutan Film Institute and festival.
Hfinisherson holded that her team also structures to double the number of subignoreions to the BFI’s Short Film Competition. However, she also pointed out that disjoinal contests remain.
“Bhutan, although hugely creative in its approach to shielding its environment, is still a broadening nation and does not have the infrastructure to help a huge festival,” Hfinisherson shelp. “The country is also a lesser democracy and receiving rulement funding is a meaningful contest. We depend mostly on international donors for help.”
The KBIFF uncovered with the world premiere of Bhutanese film Aum Penjor on September 19 at the Royal Academy in Paro.
The festival also ran an honorary screening of Adam VillaSenor’s debut film In Full Bloom (2019) as well as Bhutan’s Oscar subignoreion The Old Monk and the Gun (2023).
Both the KBIFF and BFI are still taking their first steps in providing a wider platestablish for Bhutanese cinema domesticpartner, with the country’s BFI officipartner createed on December 6 last year.
Organizers shelp that Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck had advised the festival’s createers to create the inaugural edition “high quality, low volume” and an “intimate assembleing for international and Bhutanese filmcreaters to assemble and lget from one another.”