By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, June 8: Nepal Filmmakers Association of Province 1 has submitted a 12-point memorandum to the provincial government. The Filmmakers’ Association submitted the memorandum with various demands to promote Nepali films in the province and develop a film city.
Kewal Tamang, president of the Filmmakers Association, Province-1, handed over the memorandum separately to Minister for Internal Affairs and Law Hikmat Karki, Minister for Social Development Usha Kala Rai and Minister for Economic Affairs and Planning Tanka Angbuhang (Limbu) on Sunday.
The memorandum has drawn the attention of the government to include programmes for the film industry in the upcoming budget and implement the national film policy.
Construction of a film studio at Baraha area in coordination with the Film Development Board and the provincial government should be given priority and work should be taken forward, read the memorandum.
Likewise, the state-of-the-art and fully scientific box office should be implemented, the state should build a server and coding system so that it can be used at a low cost and the filmmakers should be protected.
The association demanded budget allocation to develop a natural film studio by identifying the appropriate tourist destinations in the province.
Cinema theaters should be constructed and promoted in the required places with the joint investment of the private sector and the government, quota system should be provided for showing only 20 foreign films, tax on foreign films should be increased to 25 per cent and domestic films should be encouraged, read the memorandum.
Promotion of film industry should be expanded by appointing cultural associates in the country where Nepali embassies are located, up to 50 per cent investment should be made by the state government to encourage the production of films in different mother tongues.
The association demanded that the provincial government should set up a retirement fund to ensure the security of the filmmakers.
“In order to keep the film industry afloat, the provincial government should support at least four Nepali original films annually and provide loans (project loans) to the private sector at low interest rates to make films,” read the memorandum.
Stating that the association is the first film related organisation in Province 1, president Tamang said that relief is being distributed to the artistes in districts.