Bristol’s film community celebrated our global UNESCO City of Film connections last week for Kathmandu Calling — an evening of films by emerging talent from our sister City of Film, Kathmandu.
The special event, which took place on 28th October 2025 at Watershed, celebrated the creative international connection between these two cities, recognised by UNESCO for their rich film heritage and excellence in screen culture.
From documentary to drama, the evening opened an intriguing window into the personal, poetic and provocative stories emerging from Nepal’s vibrant independent film scene.
Our thanks to Dina Mufti for curating an inspiring event celebrating film’s power to bridge cultures and spark understanding, to the filmmakers whose work showed us how film breaks down geographical and cultural boundaries and connects us through human-centres stories: They were:
Hawaman (11 mins, dir. Samal Kumar Bajracharya)
A poetic coming-of-age story about Yug, a boy who dreams of being Superman. This deeply personal short explores self-acceptance, identity, and the quiet power of imagination in the face of societal expectations.
Wagging Tale (23 mins, dir. Samagra Shah)
This intimate documentary follows Rupak, a man with HIV living on the margins who finds healing and companionship in feeding Kathmandu’s street dogs. A story of quiet compassion and resilience amid social exclusion.
No Monastery, No Village (27 mins, dir. Tashi Lhazom)
Set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Himalayas, No Monastery, No Village offers an intimate portrait of a community on the frontline of climate catastrophe. As traditional ways of life and younger generations migrate away, the village’s ancient bond with its monastery begins to weaken. This poignant documentary captures a culture at a crossroads, where the loss of a sacred institution could mean the unravelling of an entire way of being.
This event was curated by Dina Mufti and presented in partnership with Bristol UNESCO City of Film. It was supported by KIMMF and sponsored by Underground Slate.