The under-construction film studio in Sangam, Kavre, and the Dolakha Film City, which have been repeatedly mentioned in the budget before, do not appear to be included in this budget.
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The government has made arrangements to provide income tax exemption for 10 years to those who establish new movie theaters in areas other than metropolitan cities and sub-metropolitan cities. While unveiling the budget for the fiscal year 2083/84 in the federal parliament, Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle said that this tax exemption has been made in the area of 'investment promotion and protection'.
'I have made arrangements to provide full income tax exemption for the first 10 years to those who establish new movie theaters in areas other than metropolitan cities and sub-metropolitan cities,' Minister Wagle said in his budget speech.
The budget's provision of income tax exemption for those who establish movie theaters has added enthusiasm to the entire film sector. Narendra Maharjan, president of the Nepal Film Association, the umbrella organization of movie theaters, says that this arrangement has not only encouraged movie theater entrepreneurs but also encouraged them to expand to areas where there are no movie theaters. 'Many municipalities in Nepal still do not have movie theaters. This government has raised hopes that opening halls in those places will give some excitement,' said Chairman Maharjan.
According to Maharjan, the number of halls in Nepal has now reached 170. When Narendra entered the film industry, there were 450 halls. However, the number of halls has been decreasing over time. Even during the Covid period, 18 halls were closed. However, he seems optimistic that the number of halls will increase with the tax exemption provided by the government to entrepreneurs opening new halls. 'Now, I hope that if halls are built in some municipalities due to this budget, it will encourage them,' said Chairman Maharjan.
'Pashupati Prasad' director Dipendra K Khanal seems excited that the issue of hall entrepreneurs, which he has been raising for a long time, has been included in the budget. Khanal says that this has encouraged opening halls in places where halls have not been built and has expanded the scope of the entire film sector.
'Even before the budget came, we filmmakers have been demanding that the number of halls should be increased. Whether the number of halls increases or the business increases. There are many places in our country where movie halls have not yet reached. This seems to expand the scope of the film sector,' said Director Khanal, 'At first glance, the budget seems to be in favor of the hall owners. However, it has broadened the scope of the Nepali film sector as a whole.' Khanal is now optimistic that the films he makes will be shown to a larger audience. 'If we can show films in more halls, we will also be able to collect more money. Our need is to increase the number of halls,' says Khanal.
Khanal argues that the tax exemption provided by the government for opening halls is welcome as the number of halls increases, the film business increases and its impact on the creation of filmmakers.
Director Manoj Pandit says that the budget has encouraged not only the hall owners but also the entire film sector. Pandit, who is a member of the Film Censor Board, says that increasing the number of halls will also contribute to the creative sector. 'There is a possibility of more halls being built in Nepal. It seems that businessmen will be excited to build halls. This budget, which has encouraged hall businessmen, will also contribute to the creativity of films,' Pandit said.
Pandit is of the opinion that the budget has encouraged investors, and it has also moved the film sector towards the concept of an industry. 'Film is not only culture, but also a creative business. Therefore, encouraging those who invest in it is a big contribution,' he said.
Director Naveen Subba says that the new government's budget has included only one point of the 13-point contract that a group of filmmakers had earlier submitted saying that it should be included in the budget. 'We had demanded that the budget be allocated for the five-year Nepali Film Reform Project for the overall development of this region, for the construction of necessary physical infrastructure, for the development of skilled manpower, and for the construction of special infrastructure for children, women, indigenous people, Dalits, Madhesis, backward communities, and region-specific infrastructure. But only one of those issues has been included now,' said Director Subba.
Director Subba complains that although they demanded that the government should take forward the Film Gram (a specific place where art can be performed) plan for holding big film programs, it was not included in the budget. 'We had submitted a plan to the government that we should have a village like the Busan Film Center.' But nothing was included, said Director Subba. 'Our demand is that the government should take ownership of the land of the film development company in Balaju and take forward the Film Gram plan.'
The under-construction film studio in Sangam, Kavre, and the Dolakha Film City, which have been repeatedly mentioned in the budget before, do not appear to be included in this budget. Subba sees the need for an indoor studio for filmmakers. 'An indoor studio is essential.' Work on it is probably ongoing,' Subba said.
