A complaint has been filed against the Cannes stall purchased in collaboration with the Film Development Board and the Tourism Board in the 'Hello Government' under the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers.

A complaint was filed on 19 Jestha under the title 'Study and investigation required regarding irregularities seen in the participation of the Film Development Board, stall purchase and operation process' at the world-renowned film festival Cannes,' said an employee of Hello Government. The details of the complainant have not been disclosed.

On 19 Jestha, Hello Government had already written a letter to the Development Board on this issue. However, there has been no response from the board in this regard, said an employee of AINS. 'We have already sent information about the complaint filed on the matter to the relevant places. What kind of response will they send,' said the employee. 'If the complainant's problem is resolved through the said response, we will send it as a solution.' If not, we will write and send it according to the subject, where to send it, what to do.'

In particular, this year, a stall (booth) was purchased in Cannes in collaboration with the Film Development Board and the Tourism Board. It was said that this stall was purchased with the aim of promoting the Nepali film sector, international cooperation, and providing access to Nepali films and filmmakers at the global level.

However, the stall, which was supposed to promote Nepali films, became controversial in Nepal after the posters of Nepali films selected at Cannes this year were not displayed. Many filmmakers questioned the stall after the poster of the Nepali film 'Elephants in the Fog', which was selected for the first time in an important category at Cannes, was not seen there. However, only the poster of the film 'Alone' directed by Pradeep Shahi was seen everywhere in the stall. In which the board chairman DC also acted. Posters of other films were also included, but the stall was filled with the poster of the film directed by Pradeep Shahi.

However, the film 'Elephants in the Fog', which did not get a place in the stall, created history by winning the Jury Award at Cannes. The same stall controversy has now reached the Hello Government.

At the time of the controversy, the Film Development Board had issued a statement to provide posters, trailers, and promotional materials to filmmakers who were interested in going to the Cannes stall, but since nothing was received from 'Elephants in the Fog' till the end, the stall was managed based on the available materials.

'As per the information of the board, except for the films Gaunthali, Gunyucholo, Seemi and Khya, the stall had to be managed based on the available materials in the situation where there was no practical possibility of keeping the stall empty,' the board had stated in a statement issued.

When the board contacted the production team of ‘Elephants in the Fog’ for a poster, but they did not respond, the board’s Janak Khadka says that they put up the posters of the available films in the stall. ‘The chairman also personally contacted the film production team, but they did not respond,’ said Khadka, ‘after that, posters of other films were put up.’

Due to the government’s policy regarding three-month foreign travel, the board’s representative could not reach Cannes at the last minute. Therefore, the stall’s local manager and partner, Nepali production company Shahi Productions, based in the UK, took over the management. As a result, Shahi put up large posters of his own films all over the stall.

‘Complaints do nothing. The board was preparing to send a representative, but the government stopped the preparation for Cannes.’ The aim was to introduce Nepal as a filming location . However, the Nepal government's travel policy has stopped that program,' said Khadka . 

Rajesh Thapa, Member Secretary of the Film Development Board, said that the board received a letter from the Hello Government on Jestha 28 and has already sent a reply to the ministry . 'The letter arrived at the board today . The board has also sent a reply to the ministry,' said Member Secretary Thapa . In the reply, it was mentioned that a stall was booked in Cannes, the required amount (1.1 million) was paid, and that the French Embassy and Shahi Production Company were finally given the responsibility of managing the stall after the government's policy came out at the time of participation, said Member Secretary Thapa.

'That's the subject . That's what was written in the letter and sent,' said Member Secretary Thapa . Although the stall dispute seems to have settled after the Nepali film won the Jury Prize Award at Cannes, it has come into the spotlight again due to the complaint.

However, in the meantime, the Film Development Board and the Tourism Board said that they have also honored the production team of 'Elephants in the Fog' by giving them a cash award of Rs 250,000. Although it was specifically given as an honor, it seems that this amount was previously provided under the concept of 'Travel Grant' implemented when Dayaram Dahal was the board chairman.