Kathmandu: Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) and Film Development Board Nepal jointly organized a special felicitation program on June 10. In recognition of the remarkable success achieved by Nepali cinema on the international stage, the production team and cast of the film ‘Elephants in the Fog’ were honored with a cash award of Rs. 250,000 with certificate. The film team received the honor from Hon. Minister for Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, Khadak Raj Paudel, and Hon. Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Bikram Timilsina.
Minister Paudel praised ‘Elephants in the Fog’, while speaking at the event, for successfully introducing Nepal to international audiences and expressed deep appreciation for the film team’s contribution. Highlighting the rapid progress Nepali cinema has made in recent years, he noted that such achievements have elevated the country’s prestige on the world stage.
He said, “Many dream of participating on such international platforms, and this film has successfully represented Nepal before a global audience. Its success has inspired the entire Nepali film industry.”
Minister Timilsina remarked that the recognition earned by the film team should be viewed not merely as an award but as a valuable national achievement. He further reaffirmed the government’s commitment to introducing legal and policy reforms necessary for the growth of the film sector.
The director of the film, Avinash Bikram Shah, while receiving the honor on behalf of the team, described the achievement as a collective success of the entire Nepali film fraternity rather than a personal accomplishment.
“I feel that my work itself has brought me to this point. Today, I remember all my colleagues across the country. Cinema is not merely a medium of entertainment; it is also a powerful platform for presenting our culture, identity, and stories to the world,” he said.
Officiating CEO of the Nepal Tourism Board, Hikmat Singh Air, expressed confidence that the film’s international success would also positively contribute to Nepal’s tourism promotion. He emphasized that Nepal, with its rich natural beauty, cultural heritage, and diversity, is an ideal destination for film production and encouraged both travel trade stakeholders and filmmakers to view cinema as an effective tool for tourism promotion.
“This is not only a proud moment for Nepal’s film industry but also for the promotion of Nepal’s tourism,” he remarked.
Addressing the gathering, Chairman of the Film Development Board, Dinesh DC, expressed optimism about the future of Nepal’s film industry and thanked the government for prioritizing the sector. He noted that efforts are underway to formulate a new film-related law, replacing legislation that has remained largely unchanged for 56 years, and stated that the government has shown a positive attitude toward the development of cinema.
