Film Development Board Executive Chairman Dinesh Raj Dahal has said that the long-awaited new Film Act, which had been under discussion for the past 56 years, is a significant milestone for Nepal’s film industry.

Speaking at an event in Kathmandu, Dahal expressed confidence that the new Act and accompanying regulations will help make the film sector more organized, transparent, and professionally managed. He noted that the current government has shown a positive attitude toward arts, literature, and music, creating hope for meaningful reforms in the industry.

Dahal stated that Prime Minister, Home Minister, and Communications Minister are all individuals who understand and appreciate the creative sector, which he believes will contribute to the long-term growth of Nepal’s film industry.

He also revealed that the government has allocated NPR 35 million to support the production of original and creative Nepali films. Emphasizing the importance of cinema halls as the primary revenue source for the industry, he called for further expansion of theaters across the country.

According to Dahal, Nepal had around 450 cinema halls before the conflict era, but the number declined to 110 before gradually increasing to 175. To accelerate growth, the Film Development Board plans to establish 50 new cinema halls through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.

Under the proposed model, local governments would provide land, provincial governments would construct buildings, and the Film Development Board would invest in technical infrastructure. He also suggested tax exemptions for new cinema halls in smaller towns and rural areas, along with customs duty waivers on imported technical equipment required for theater operations.

Dahal further stressed the need for a strong domestic OTT platform to support the digital future of Nepal’s film industry, adding that the Board is actively exploring opportunities in this area.