With a huge gathering of well-known filmmakers from all over the world, the “Kathmandu International Film Festival 2002” began Thursday in Kathmandu.

The festival is taking place on the occasion of the International Year of Mountains and on the eve of the 50th anniversary of the first ascent of Everest.

A total of 53 films from the 23 countries will be screened over the four days of the festival,  the organizer Himal Association announced at the opening ceremony. The films were selected from 108 films from different parts of the world.