Communication Minister presents proposal on Film Bill in HoR

Kathmandu, May 27: In today's meeting of the House of Representatives, Minister for Information and Communication Dr Bikram Timilsina proposed that the Film Bill-2082, which originated in the National Assembly, be considered.     

After the proposal was presented, the lower house of the Federal Parliament started discussions on the principles of the bill.     

The government has proposed a new bill arguing that the old Film Act, which has been in effect since 2026 BS, needs to be updated in line with the times, requiring a new legal framework compatible with the federal structure, inclusivity, and new technology.     

The Ministry of Communication has proposed this bill, stating that a new Act is necessary to develop the film sector not only as a means of entertainment but also as a social, cultural, and creative arts industry.     

The bill is introduced with the aim of promoting Nepal as an international tourism destination through cinema, arranging for mandatory screening of domestic and foreign films before their release, and making the development, expansion, promotion, and regulation of Nepali films more effective.     

It is stated that the Constitution of Nepal, the National Mass Communication Policy 2073, and the National Film Policy 2071 were used as the basis while drafting the bill.     

It has also been stated that new laws are needed to protect and develop language, script, culture, literature, art, cinema and heritage in the policy related to social and cultural transformation in line with the provisions of the Constitution.     

The bill proposes to develop the Film Development Board as a more empowered and autonomous body. Currently, the Board operates with limited powers, and the aim is to expand the legal basis to strengthen its regulatory role and to organise the production, distribution, and screening of films.     

The government has also set a goal of making Nepal an attractive destination for film production at the international level. It has been highlighted that the Film Development Board needs to be further empowered, as it has become a member of the Asian Film Commission Network and is expanding relations with various international film organisations.     

The bill also gives special priority to making the box office system in the film industry more effective. The bill aims to develop the Nepali film industry as a formal industry.     

Special emphasis has been placed on the protection of film workers' labour rights, the promotion of films in the mother tongue, the preservation of artistic and intellectual films of indigenous communities, and their internationalisation.     

The bill also proposes provisions to legally regulate the expansion of the domestic film market, attract foreign investment, and use new technology.     

It is expected that with the implementation of the new Film Act, film production, distribution, and exhibition will become more organised, accountability in the cinema industry will increase, and the Board's sources of income and scope of work will expand. It has also been stated that this will help establish Nepali films as a creative, cultural, and entertainment industry at both national and international levels.(RSS)