Kathmandu, Sept. 21 -- Nepali documentary filmmaker Avash Rijal's The Witness of Yara has won the award for best short documentary at the 29th Religion Today Film Festival in Trento, Italy.

Filmed at an altitude of nearly 3,800 metres, the 15-minute-29-second documentary examines the effects of climate change in Nepal's Himalayan region through the eyes of a young woman. It explores how a changing climate is reshaping the region's natural environment as well as its cultural and social life.

Rijal, a permanent resident of Rasuwa district, said receiving the award in a city known for its blend of nature, spirituality and culture was an honour, but the recognition came at a difficult time for him.

"Many of my relatives and friends were am...