By TRN Online, Kathmandu, Apr.23: Minister for Foreign Affairs Pradeep Kumar Gyawali assured that the government would extend assistance to the film and entertainment industry as it was a sector also hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic.

 “The virus is hitting each and every sector and film industry is one of them,” Minister Gywalai said inaugurating the 9th edition of Nepal-Africa Film Festival (NAFF) organised by College of Journalism and Mass Communication (CJMC) here today.

“Films play vital roles in exchanging cultural values among global community and I assure for the required relief packages for the revival of the industry,” he said. According to him the government was serious for the workers and dependents in this industry.

Minister Gyawali highlighted on the glorious history of Africa and said liberation war and several other struggles they did in Africa were lessons for Nepal and Nepali people. “We are deeply rooted with each other though we have weaker diplomatic relations between us,” he added. 

The Foreign Minister also said that the government had a plan of establishing bilateral ties with the African countries.

Similarly, Akash Adhikari, chairman of Nepal Film Producers Association, urged the minister to initiate for some fiscal relief packages to the film industry. “We are expecting for some budgetary support as the film industry has been highly affected after the outbreak of the novel coronavirus in Nepal,” he said.

Adhikari viewed that they were bearing losses because the cinema halls remained closed for long and it was still uncertain how long the shutdown will last. He also pointed out that the government needs to organise international film festivals from the embassies it has across the globe. 

Dayaram Dahal, Chairman of Film Board, said that cultural exchange would be efficient if they get frequent opportunities of international film festivals across among global community. “Such festivals should be frequent as according to annual calendar,” he added.

Addressing the function, Dr. Manju Mishra, principal of CJMC, said that viewing the culture and customs of African continent through their own lens was better than depending on anybody else in the programme. “Why should we depend upon secondary data when we have their own lens,” she said. And the lens was film for her.

The organizers said that they will screen 18 short, documentary and featured films during the 3-day long film festival.