At a time when the valley is reeling under acute water shortage, a Nepali telefilm based on the shortage of drinking water has been selected to be screened at an international event on water to be held in Mexico.

‘Jalapari’, a telefilm directed by Madan Krishna Shrestha and Haribansh Acharya, is one among three dozen films from all over the world to be screened during the film festival to be held at the World Water Forum 2006 in Mexico from March 16 to 22, according to reports.

The telefilm highlights the problems of severe water shortage and its effect on people’s lifestyle and also suggests rainwater harvesting as a possible solution.

The eight-day event will screen similar films from USA, Canada, Spain, France, Venezuela, India, Iran, Mexico, Italy, Kenya, Chile, Brazil, among other countries.

Some selected water experts from Nepal are participating in the festival, according to the NGO Forum for Urban Water and Sanitation.