Govt will develop film shooting centres in every district: Karki

By Renuka Dhakal Kathmandu, July 1: Minister for Communications and Information Technology Gyanendra Bahadur Karki has said that every sector should work diligently to make Nepal prosperous.

Speaking at a programme organised in the auditorium of Film Development Board (FDB) on Thursday on the occasion of its 22nd anniversary, Minister Karki stressed the need for reviewing the work from every sector and working meticulously to develop the nation.  

“In 10 years, our generation will be one of the richest in South Asia,” Minister Kakri said, adding that the government is ready to help in that direction.”

Minister Karki added that the government aims to develop film shooting centres in every district that help enrich the film legally, scientifically and socially.

Secretary of the Ministry of Communications Dr. Baikuntha Aryal said that film is a soft power that helps promote Nepali art, culture and language in the world. 

Stating that the film sector was in deep trouble due to COVIID- 19 pandemic and to help this sector the government has outlined plans and budget through the government's policy, plan and budget programme. 

He also urged the filmmakers to work in coordination with the government for the upliftment of the film sector.

Aryal said that the construction work of indoor shooting studio in Banepa, Kavre is in progress and the work of environmental study has reached the final stage.

He stressed on the need to focus on the desire of the audience for Nepali films to compete with international films and said a film can compete with foreign films only if it is made by researching thoughtfully. 

Talking about the main works completed by the Board in this Fiscal Year 2078/79, Board Member Secretary Tanka Bahadur Mahat said that the Board has established and operated a story bank to encourage filmmakers to produce the original Nepali stories.

Curriculum has been prepared in coordination with the Curriculum Development Centre for teaching film-related subjects in the secondary level classes of 11 and 12 and discussions have been started with the Centre for teaching technical education in film subjects in classes 9 and 10, he added. 

Appropriate film shooting sites have been identified in all the seven provinces for the construction of film shooting studio and the indoor film shooting studio in Banepa, Kavre is in the process of acquiring land for environmental impact assessment and DPR, Mahat added. 

During the programme, Minister Kakri distributed identity cards to 61 senior filmmakers who have made immense contributions to Nepali cinema industry for over 25 years. In the first phase, the board provided identity cards to 40 senior filmmakers. 

The Board has mentioned that the filmmakers will receive the health insurance worth Rs. 1000,00. Artistes, including Dr. Bhola Rijal, Bhuwan KC, Rajaram Poudel, Chaitanya Devi Singh, Santosh Panta, Kiran Kumar KC, Dhiren Shakya and others, received the identity cards amid the programme today.