Film halls to reopen from Monday

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Sept. 15: Film halls across the country are set to reopen from Monday.

The Nepal Motion Picture Association decided on Sunday to resume cinema operations, with the safety of audiences and theaters as a top priority.

 The halls, which had halted operations from Tuesday last week due to the Gen Z anti-corruption protest, will resume from Monday, said Narendra Maharjan, President of the Nepal Motion Picture Association.

A hall located in Bhatbhetini, Biratnagar, was completely destroyed, while a few others were partially damaged, Maharjan added.

He said that, except for one hall, all halls across the nation will resume operations from Monday. Details of the financial loss are yet to be reported.

It is estimated that damages worth over Rs. 1.7 million occurred during the Gen Z protest, though official figures are not yet available, said Maharjan. 

Film halls will continue screening the films that were halted due to the protests, he informed.

With the reopening of theaters, films already being screened, including ‘Remai,’  ‘Baagi 4,’  ‘Koshedhunga,’ and ‘Mohar,’ will continue to be screened.

Additionally, a few foreign films are also scheduled for release.

As theaters prepare to reopen from Monday, operators have been engaged in cleaning and maintenance. 

Meanwhile, Dinesh DC, Chairman of the Film Development Board, Nepal, said that due to the current situation, the board’s plans and programmes are on hold for now. Once the new government is fully formed, the board will resume work on its plans and programmes.