Govt to refine film bill

By A Staff Reporter, Kathmandu, May 28: Minister for Communications and Information Technology Dr. Bikram Timilsina has said that the government will further improve the Film Bill 2082 by including suggestions received from lawmakers and people involved in the film industry.

Replying to questions raised during discussions in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, Minister Timilsina said the government was serious about making the bill modern, practical and supportive of the development of Nepal’s film sector.

 He said the government had been consulting filmmakers, producers and other experts to understand the present needs of the industry and areas where legal reforms were necessary.

“We are carefully studying whether the bill reflects present times and addresses the expectations of the film industry,” the minister said. He added that recommendations received from parliamentary committees and experts would be included to make the proposed law more effective.

The House of Representatives on Tuesday unanimously approved the proposal to take the ‘Film Bill 2082’ which was first introduced in the National Assembly, into consideration.

The government has proposed the new bill to replace the existing Film Act, which has been in force since 1969. According to the Ministry, a new legal framework is needed to match the country’s federal system, inclusiveness policies and the growing use of modern technology in filmmaking.

The bill aims to develop the film sector not only as a source of entertainment but also as a social, cultural and creative industry. It also seeks to promote Nepal internationally as an attractive destination for film production and tourism.

The proposed law includes provisions to make prior screening compulsory before the exhibition of both domestic and foreign films. It also aims to regulate and expand film production, distribution and exhibition in a more systematic manner.

The bill proposes strengthening the Film Development Board by giving it greater authority and a stronger legal foundation. The government believes this will help improve the management and regulation of the film industry.

The government has also set a target of establishing Nepal as an attractive international destination for film production. It has been pointed out that the board, already a member of the Asian Film Commission Network and expanding relations with various international film institutions, needs to be further strengthened.

Special importance has also been given to making the box office system compulsory and transparent. The government said this would help maintain proper records of ticket sales, revenue and taxes.

The proposed bill also focuses on protecting the rights of film workers, promoting films in mother tongues and encouraging the use of new technology and foreign investment in the film sector.