The Blue Butterfly Foundation hosts South Asian Feminist Film Festival in Kathmandu

KATHMANDU: The Blue Butterfly Foundation organised the South Asian Feminist Film Festival – Film Marathon 2026 at One Cinemas, New Baneshwor, on Tuesday as part of the global One Billion Rising Nepal 2026 movement.

Held under the theme 'Promoting Equality Through Cinema', the festival brought together feminist narratives from South Asia to highlight women’s lived experiences, resilience, justice and equality, organisers said.

The event was organised in partnership with One Billion Rising Nepal 2026 and SangatNepal, and supported by Butterfly Films. It drew representatives from non-governmental organisations, women’s groups, civil society members, school students and UN Global Compact Nepal, creating a diverse audience committed to social change.

The session opened with the screening of 'Saving Face' from Pakistan, a documentary that sheds light on the lives of women affected by acid attacks and the efforts to raise awareness and advocate for justice. Following the screening, Muskan Khatun, an acid attack survivor and leading advocate, shared her personal journey of resilience and activism and her role in raising national awareness and contributing to legal reform in Nepal, where acid attacks are now punishable by life imprisonment.

The second screening featured 'Unspoken Bond' from Nepal, which depicted the life of an elderly woman caring for her two daughters with disabilities and highlighted issues of disability inclusion and caregiving responsibilities. After the film, Ganga Chhantyal, president of National Indigenous Disabled Self Employment Women Association Nepal (NIDSEWA Nepal) and a person with a disability, addressed the audience and spoke about empowerment, self-reliance and the importance of inclusive opportunities.

Rashmi KC, programme manager at UN Global Compact Nepal, expressed strong support for the initiative. She said, "Partnerships, storytelling and inclusive platforms are vital in advancing equality-focused movements and long-term social change in Nepal."

Organisers described the festival as a cultural advocacy initiative that used cinema to raise awareness of gender-based violence, disability inclusion and social justice, and to create a space for reflection, dialogue and collective commitment to change across South Asia.

Key organisers of the event included Srijan Shrestha, president of Blue Butterfly Foundation, and Jenish Pahari, managing director of Butterfly Films. The programme ran from 10:00 am to 11:30 am and was attended by more than 50 participants.