Minister Kharel holds meeting with film artistes

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Nov. 7: Artists, directors, producers, and representatives of various film organisations met with Minister for Communication and Information Technology Jagdish Kharel on Thursday. 

During the meeting, they shared the situation of Nepal's film industry, opportunities and challenges and suggest ways for sustainable development and promotion of the industry.

 The team led by the chairman of the Film Development Board, Dinesh DC, presented several proposals to the government.

During the meeting held in the initiative of Minister Kharel himself, the representatives of silver screen  emphasised that cinema should not only be regarded as a source of entertainment but also as an integral part of employment generation, tourism promotion, and national identity.

DC proposed several key measures, including a three-year tax exemption and customs-free privileges for investors who open new film theatres in districts or cities lacking cinema halls, a two-year tax exemption for the reopening of theatres closed due to natural disasters or conflicts and customs exemptions for the upgrading of existing theatres.

 He also stressed the need to amend the Film Act and Bill, to seek government assistance in establishing a National Studio and Film Welfare Fund, and to formulate clear legal provisions for the use of weapons in films. 

Moreover, he called for the simplification, transparency, and fairness of the film censorship system.

The meeting was attended by ministry officials and artistes including Kedar Ghimire, Deepak Raj Giri, Jitu Nepal, Pradeep Khadka, Deepa Shree Niraula, Aryan Sigdel, Niti Shah, Ram Krishna Dhakal, Shiva Shrestha, Rabindra Khadka and Suresh Adhikari. 

Likewise, directors Dipendra K. Khanal, Dinesh Raut, Janak Khadka, Saroj Paudel and Pradeep Bhattarai, as well as organisation heads Mohan Niraula, Pushkar Lama, and Narendra Maharjan were also present.

Actor Giri said that filmmakers have always been at the forefront of every national movement and transformation, and urged the media and social media users to act responsibly and with restraint.

Chairman of the Film Artists Association Mohan Niraula said that there is only one cinema hall in the entire Karnali Province, and called for government support to expand theatres across the region.

Artists Jitu Nepal, director Saroj Paudel, and Pradeep Bhattarai expressed dissatisfaction with the unequal treatment by the Censor Board and film screening restrictions, demanding a fair and impartial policy.

Cinematographer Bishnu Kalpit raised concerns about legal complications in drone use and administrative hassles in filming foreign productions.

Actor Pradeep Khadka mentioned the lack of foreign direct investment in the film industry and suggested that placing the Film Department under the Ministry of Tourism would help promote the sector more effectively.

The meeting helped strengthen ties between the film industry and the government, signalling positive prospects for policy reforms. 

Film professionals expressed their expectation of collaboration with the government to include cinema as a part of national policy and priorities.