SATV, Kathmandu, Jun. 12 - The team of the Cannes Film Festival award-winning film ‘Elephants in the Fog’ was honoured at a programme held in Kathmandu.

Organised by the Film Development Board and the Nepal Tourism Board on Wednesday, the event saw Minister for Communications and Information Technology Dr. Bikram Timilsina, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Khadak Raj Paudel ‘Ganesh’, and the Prime Minister’s Chief Political Adviser Asim Shah present honours to the film team.

During the ceremony, the team was awarded a cash prize of Rs. 250,000 in recognition of the historic achievement of Nepali cinema on the international stage.

Minister Dr. Timilsina has said that the government is committed to bringing about visible changes to Nepali film industry that the cine fraternity will experience in practical sense.

Minister Dr. Timilsina said the government is ready to support the development, strengthening and reforming the film industry.

Stating that the contribution of the film sector invaluable, he said the success achieved at Cannes is also a matter of pride for the country.

Minister Dr. Timilsina stated that the active participation of filmmakers is essential to make a film bill, currently under consideration in a parliamentary committee, timely and practical for the long-term development of the film sector. He said suggestions gathered through joint discussions with artists, producers and other stakeholders will be incorporated into the bill.

He also emphasised the need to make the Film Development Board more capable and effective in order to develop the film sector as an industry and urged all stakeholders to work together for its advancement.

Informing that the government has allocated around Rs. 35 million in the current fiscal year to encourage the production of quality films that reflect the country’s identity, culture and voice, Minister Dr. Timilsina said efforts would be made to increase the budget next year based on positive results.

Likewise, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Paudel said that ‘Elephants in the Fog’ has played an important role in introducing Nepal on the international platform.

After receiving the honour, film director Abinash Bikram Shah said that the achievement was not a personal success but a shared victory of all Nepali filmmakers. 

He said, “I am remembering my colleagues across the country. Film is not only a medium of entertainment, it is also a powerful way to present our culture, identity, and stories to the world.”

Senior Director of the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB), Hikmat Singh Ayer, expressed confidence that the film’s international success would have a positive impact on promoting tourism in Nepal. 

Likewise, chairman of the Film Development Board, Dinesh DC, said he was optimistic about the future of the Nepali film industry and expressed his gratitude to the government for prioritising the film sector.