Nepal’s government has sparked mixed reactions by announcing Rs35 million in grants for films highlighting the country’s culture, history, and tourism. Filmmakers welcome the aim but question the short application period and process. The Ministry of Information and Communication announced the grants for the current fiscal year on Tuesday. The 2026 procedure supports projects with cultural and national significance. Applicants have 21 days to apply. The scheme covers three stages of filmmaking: scriptwriting, production and post-production. Five scripts can receive up to Rs500,000 each. Three film productions can receive up to Rs7 million each. Five post-production projects can receive up to Rs2 million each.
The government hopes the support will encourage stories about Nepal’s heritage, communities and tourist destinations. Supporters see the grants as an opportunity to strengthen local filmmaking and help culturally important stories reach audiences. However, several industry figures say the application window is too short. Actress Nisha Adhikari welcomed the funding but questioned why the ministry was leading the programme instead of the Film Development Board. She said the announcement lacked clarity and gave applicants too little time to prepare. Film producer and distributor Pradeep Kumar Udaya raised a similar concern. He argued that the Film Development Board should manage the scheme because it has experience distributing grants and operating its Story Board initiative.
Actor and director Ashant Sharma criticised the deadline. He said films about history, culture and tourism require research, location visits and conversations with local communities. Preparing a script and completing basic research can take three to four months, he said. Producer Ram Krishna Pokharel supported the idea but called for better planning. He said the government should announce the scheme earlier and include it in its annual calendar. This would give filmmakers time to develop proposals and prepare applications.
Ministry officials have defended the process while acknowledging that adjustments may be needed. Undersecretary Rakesh Gurung said the 21-day period applies to applications, not completed scripts. He added that officials could extend the deadline if too few applications arrive. Ministry spokesperson Bishnu Koirala said the programme is being implemented for the first time and may have shortcomings. He said the Film Development Board would lead implementation and provide technical recommendations, while the ministry would handle budget matters. The scheme’s success will depend on clear guidance, enough preparation time and transparent selection. Nepal government’s film grant scheme gets mixed reviews as filmmakers await possible changes.
