Director Deepak Rauniyar on Monday questioned the stall set up by the Film Development Board at the Cannes film festival. He raised the question by saying that the stall set up by the board at this world-famous film festival did not include the film Elephants in the Fog, which was selected at Cannes this year. 'This is the official stall set up at Cannes at the expense of the Development Board,' he wrote while publishing a photo of the stall, 'But, the board does not know what kind of film they should be proud of. The poster of the film that was in the official selection is not here. The film that has been brought to Nepal on such a platform before is not visible here.' Rauniyar's question is not focused only on the poster of 'Elephants in the Fog' not being included. Rauniyar questioned the board saying that it did not understand the rationale for the film to be presented on such a platform and did not see the contribution made by the film that had reached a similar festival before. It is also clear from the photo of the stall shared on social media - a large poster of the film 'Eklo' is placed on the stall. Along with it, small posters of 'Last Ritual', 'Gunyucholo: The Dress', 'Gauthali' are included. However, the name of the film, which is participating from Nepal for the first time in the competition, is not mentioned. This does not mean that these films should not be promoted in this type of market for the sale and distribution of films. However, the film industry has raised its voice saying that it is problematic for the board to promote only these films, ignoring the efforts made by the filmmakers to reach such a platform before, and the representation made by the films that have reached there. 'A film called Elephants has now reached there. But, Mukundo, Numafung has reached such a platform. That film represents the country and reaches such a festival. They didn't have to ask the filmmakers to put up posters of those films,' says director Rauniyar, 'if posters were used for such a positive cause, there would have been no question.' 'Elephants in the Fog' directed by Avinash Vikram Shah has been selected and is being screened in an important category after the main competition at Cannes this year. However, the film is not included in the stall set up by the government to promote the film, and filmmakers are also questioning the expenditure incurred by the board. Samipyaraj Timilsina, president of the Film Critics Society, says that this stall was used to promote Dinesh DC's film rather than to promote Nepali films. 'After the board has set up a stall like this, it is not clear that it should discuss with the stakeholders how to promote Nepali films. Who will participate by making applications like this? Can the poster of the film in which board chairman Dinesh DC himself played be placed there?' Chairman Timilsina said, 'Why is there no poster of Elephants in the Fog there? Why is there no film that has reached other festivals there? Isn't it like the board's money is being spent to promote its own film?'

The Film Development Board said that although they issued a press release to provide posters, trailers, and promotional materials to filmmakers who are interested in going to the Cannes stall, they have stated that since nothing was received from 'Elephants in the Fog' till the end, the stall has been managed based on the available materials. 'As per the board's information, the complete promotional materials for the films other than Gaunthali, Gunyucholo, Seemi and Khya were not available till the last minute, so it was not practical to keep the stalls empty,' the board said in a statement issued on Tuesday.

'Elephants in the Fog' producer Anup Poudel says that he did not get anything from the board when he asked for help for the Cannes trip. Brazil, which collaborated in the production of the film, expressed its ownership by placing a large poster of the film at the 'Film Commission', but Anup says that the board did not give him anything except good wishes and a bouquet of flowers. 'The participation of the film is bigger than the stall. We expected support from the board. The director and I needed the expenses of the plane and accommodation to reach Cannes. Which we did not have. We asked for help, but they asked the director for a poster, he was busy,' Anup said, 'We don't need publicity. Our sales agent is doing that. But, on what basis did the Nepal Development Board ask for a film? Something had to happen to us. They just handed us flowers.'

Director Rauniyar sees a problem in not providing this information to the concerned filmmakers even when the board can easily use the posters. 'What is the benefit of sending posters to Deepak Rauniyar, Meen Bham and Naveen Subba just because the board issued a statement? Isn't that insulting the filmmakers?' Rauniyar asks, 'My film won't benefit from putting the poster there. To send the poster there, we had to write a letter and inform the concerned filmmakers.' The poster of 'Elephants in the Fog' is also being shared on social media. If it wanted, the board could have used it from there too, but Anup said that the board did not pay attention to it either.

Filmmaker Rajila Shrestha says that the board has shown immature behavior by ignoring the film that created history by being selected at Cannes. 'The board should understand the importance of a film made in the country being selected at Cannes. It seems that the country's film has been ignored. It seems that only those with access and money are given a place in the stall,' said Rajila.

The relevance and importance of the market

In particular, world-famous festivals always manage this kind of 'market' to buy and sell films. In such a market, there is a large gathering of people related to film production, from film producers, distributors, exhibitors to people related to film production. Where not only the purchase and sale of films but also the possibility of international co-production opens up. That is why the world's attention is reaching such markets along with the films shown at the festival. After all, a market is also essential for a film.

Filmmakers from all over the world are reaching such markets. In that market, various countries set up stalls to promote and promote their country's films. It was a matter of joy for filmmakers that the board saw the need for such a stall in the 79th edition of Cannes. However, now the board is being criticized for not understanding the relevance and importance of having this stall.

Filmmaker Kumar D. Bhattarai says that it is shameful for the board to present itself at Cannes like this. 'Showing mediocrity in such a place like Cannes where money is spent is not 'global reach', but rather it is completely shameful. It is pathetic,' he wrote on the social network Facebook. Actor Mahesh Tripathi, while sharing Rauniyar's post, mentioned that this is a serious issue. He has also raised questions about the way everyone is 'applauding' Kathmandu Metropolitan City Mayor Sunita Dangol's participation in Cannes. 'While everyone is making such big news about someone going to the Cannes Film Festival, our Nepali film Elephants in the Fog, directed by Avinash Vikram Shah, has been selected in the On Certain Regard category at the same film festival and is having its world premiere at the same film festival,' Tripathi wrote on Facebook, 'This is an unprecedented and historic achievement of Nepali cinema. It is a sad thing for Nepali cinema that this issue is not being reported, not being made, and not being celebrated. How long will we run after the populists, leaving our priorities aside?'

Last year, 15,000 filmmakers were present at this 'market' of Cannes. This year, 16,000 filmmakers, distributors and producers are expected. How many filmmakers participating in a festival that attracts 200,000 people will visit such 'stalls'? How will such a stall attract the attention of those filmmakers? The board's attention does not seem to have reached this point.

Rauniyar says that although they have stated that they are committed to expanding the international recognition of Nepali films, the board has not been able to use the stalls accordingly. Rauniyar says that the board has failed to introduce Nepali filmmakers and promote Nepal as a filming location. 'It just looked like a private company was spending government money to promote its film. How did the poster of the film that has been placed in a big way make us proud? To keep it like that?' Rauniyar said, 'This is a platform to show that we have such filmmakers. The board should facilitate its filmmakers to be introduced to world cinema, and celebrate the films made there. But, the board does not seem to have done these things.'