SATV, Kathmandu, Jun. 16 - The deadline for applications to the ‘Film Story Bank’ competition, a key attraction of the third edition of the Karnali International Film Festival, has been extended.
The revised schedule and detailed guidelines were unveiled during a special programme held in Kathmandu recently.
Speaking at the event, Member of the House of Representatives Gyanendra Shahi said that the Karnali Provincial Government had agreed to allocate Rs. 10 million for Nepali film production.
“The Karnali Provincial Government has assured us that it will allocate Rs. 10 million specifically for films this year,” he said. “I would like to remind the government once again of that commitment.”
The initiative aims to bring the countless original stories of the Karnali region to the silver screen and encourage local writers, young people and creative individuals to engage in screenwriting.
From among the stories submitted by creative writers living in Nepal and abroad, an expert jury panel will transparently select the best 15 entries. These selected stories will be preserved in the festival’s ‘Film Story Bank’, and their authors will receive specialised training in screenplay writing, according to the organisers.
Of these, the top three stories will receive cash prizes of Rs. 50,000, Rs. 30,000 and Rs. 20,000 respectively, along with certificates and special recognition.
The competition is open to Nepali citizens of all age groups residing in Nepal or overseas.
The results will be announced on December 31. Authors whose stories are selected will receive screenplay-writing training during the fourth edition of the festival.
The festival secretariat has called on storytellers to take part in this major campaign by submitting their valuable creations and helping bring the living stories of Karnali’s land, culture and society to the world.
Participants have been urged to use the festival’s official website and email addresses for detailed information and story submissions.
During the same programme, the book Baikini, written by Sirju Shah and based on a story from the Karnali region, was also launched.
