May 27, Kathmandu – The House of Representatives has forwarded the much-debated Film Bill, 2082, to the parliamentary committee for clause-by-clause discussion after it reached the National Assembly. At the House session held on Wednesday, Minister for Information and Communications Dr. Bikram Timilsina proposed that the bill be sent to the relevant committee for detailed review. The proposal was unanimously approved, and the Film Bill was subsequently referred to the Committee on Education, Health, and Information Technology.
The government introduced the new bill to amend the outdated Film Act that has been in effect since 2026 BS (1969-70 AD), aligning it with contemporary needs. The revisions incorporate provisions reflecting the federal structure, inclusiveness, and advances in technology. The Ministry of Communications emphasized that a new legal framework is imperative not only to position the film industry as a source of entertainment but also to develop it as a socio-cultural and creative industry.
The bill aims to promote Nepal as a prime international tourist destination through cinema, to mandate prior screening of domestic and foreign films before public exhibition, and to ensure effective regulation, expansion, and promotion of the Nepalese film industry. It has been formulated based on the Constitution of Nepal, the National Mass Communication Policy 2073, and the National Film Policy 2071. According to constitutional provisions, new legislation is essential for the protection and development of language, scripts, culture, literature, arts, cinema, and heritage, which are integral to social and cultural transformation.
