MUMBAI, India – July 25, 2026, the 2026 (2nd) Himalayan Rim Film Exhibition successfully concluded its regional tour with a vibrant final event hosted at Sathaye College, University of Mumbai. Spanning across multiple university campuses in Nepal and India, the exhibition utilized film screenings, academic lectures, interactive director Q&As, and hands-on cultural workshops to establish a dynamic platform for cross-cultural dialogue and film education among youth across China, India, and Nepal.
Main Highlights & Special Guest Engagements
Throughout its multi-destination tour, the exhibition brought together prominent filmmakers, scholars, and local educational leaders:
- In-Depth Academic & Masterclass Lectures:
- Director Xu Haofeng (The Master) hosted post-screening sessions at Pokhara University in Nepal and the Department of Management Sciences (PUMBA) at Savitribai Phule Pune University, delving into the creative concepts of kung fu cinema and Eastern aesthetics.
- Professor Li Daoxin of Peking University delivered a keynote address titled “China-India Film Cooperation: Current Status, Opportunities and Future Outlook,” engaging faculty and students in a packed, enthusiastic venue.
- Professor Fan Zhizhong, Dean of the International Film Development Institute of Zhejiang University, connected online to share insights on Chinese Wuxia film aesthetics and youth film education during the screening of The Legend of the Condor Heroes: The Gallants.
- Digital Innovation & AI in Filmmaking:
- Co-producer Li Yilin introduced the digital production technologies, motion capture, and visual effects behind the animated film I Am What I Am 2.
- Guest directors Qiu Sheng and Wan Bo led themed talks exploring AI’s role in creative methods, image education, and the transition from technical training to aesthetic creation.
- Cultural Connections:
- Sathaye College Principal Dr. Madhav R. Rajwade and Nishith Shah, Dean of the India China Academy, delivered opening remarks alongside Indian film professional Abhinav Mehrotra, emphasizing the importance of youth collaboration and mutual cultural learning.
- Attendees participated in the hands-on “Tying Friendship” cultural activity, learning the craftsmanship and symbolism of traditional Chinese knotting.
Featured Screenings Showcase
The exhibition highlighted both traditional aesthetics and modern digital innovations in Chinese cinema through four key films:
- Blades of the Guardians: Wind Rises in the Desert
- The Legend of the Condor Heroes: The Gallants (Closing Film)
- The Master
- I Am What I Am 2
Looking Ahead
Spanning two countries and four universities, the 2026 (2nd) Himalayan Rim Film Exhibition has established a vital practice for regional trilateral cooperation among China, India, and Nepal. By bridging technology, film art, and youth engagement, the tour has laid a firm foundation for future academic partnerships, film industry exchanges, and deeper humanistic connections across the Himalayan Rim region.
Mumbai (India): The 2nd Himalayan Rim Film Exhibition wrapped up its regional multi-university tour with a grand finale at Sathaye College, University of Mumbai. Spanning key academic hubs across Nepal and India, the multi-destination festival leveraged film screenings, masterclasses, and hands-on workshops to build a vibrant cross-cultural exchange platform for youth and film scholars from China, India, and Nepal.
The exhibition highlighted both traditional aesthetics and modern digital innovations in Chinese cinema through four key films:
1. Blades of the Guardians: Wind Rises in the Desert
2. The Legend of the Condor Heroes: The Gallants (Closing Film)
3. The Master
4. I Am What I Am 2
The exhibition presented the latest cutting-edge digital filmmaking techniques. Director Xu Haofeng (The Master) hosted post-screening masterclasses on martial arts cinema aesthetics at Pokhara University and Savitribai Phule Pune University, while Peking University’s Professor Li Daoxin delivered a keynote on future China-India film cooperation. The tour also showcased technological advances, featuring discussions on motion capture in I Am What I Am 2 and talks on AI’s evolving role in creative image production led by directors Qiu Sheng and Wan Bo.
At the Mumbai finale, Sathaye College Principal Dr. Madhav R. Rajwade, Nishith Shah (Dean of the India China Academy), and film professional Abhinav Mehrotra underscored the value of youth-driven artistic collaboration. Students also engaged directly in cultural exchange through a traditional Chinese knotting workshop titled “Tying Friendship.”
“By bridging technology, cinema art, and youth engagement across four universities in two nations, the exhibition has established a firm foundation for future academic partnerships and regional humanistic connections throughout the Himalayan Rim.”
Speaking with the Media, senior journalist Lokesh Shastri commented that this is an excellent initiative taken by the Himalayan Rim Film Exhibition and Sathaye College in culturally uniting the two major economies of the world through Entertainment as a medium, the young students get an opportunity to learn new techniques and understand the Cultural advantages of both the cultures and this brings them closer to each other.
The two day Film Exhibition brought a great excitement among the students of Sathaye College and speaking on the occasion they said that they were blown away by seeing the latest technological innovations in Film making and commented that they are now excited in channelizing their creativity in storytelling for which our country is famous for. They also added that such initiatives will help in the understanding of Chinese culture by Indians and Indian Culture by Chinese opening up avenues in cross cultural unity in diversity.
By combining modern cinema tools with traditional narratives, the event empowered young creators to bring regional stories to a global audience, strengthening international cultural ties and inspiring the next generation of filmmakers
