Following the announcement of a box office tabulator in Kathmandu’s cinema houses, Nikita Poudel, the chair of the Nepal Film Development Board who assumed office in December last year, is currently on a nationwide tour to discuss the ambitious project. 

Speaking to the Post in Birtamode after discussing the prospect with hall owners in the city, Poudel said that she has received positive responses by and large. “Hope the prospect will come to fruition soon,” Poudel said. If all goes well, the box office tabulator will be in place in Kathmandu’s theatres from the oncoming Nepali New Year’s Day. The aim is to expand the system (Central Cinema Management System, as the Board terms it) to all parts of the country by early 2019. 

Speaking about the Board’s further plans, Poudel said that she is working to create a favourable atmosphere for foreign film crews to come to Nepal and shoot here, to promote Nepali regional and indigenous films, and to produce skilled manpower in the industry. 

“As of now, the Board is running out of the tax money paid by foreign films, while the process for foreign film crews to come here and shoot is not clearly laid out,” Poudel went on, “Meanwhile, we also aim to produce a skilled set of manpower in the industry, for which we have plans to send a select group for study and training abroad... Also we are gearing up to include film studies in the higher secondary curricula.” 

Speaking about the recent slew of Nepali films, Poudel was optimistic and felt that she sees a vibrant future for the industry. “New, promsing filmmakers have entered the scene now, and films are being made using the latest technology available. New and original stories have found their way to the big screen,” Poudel continued, “And also the number of films being made is on the rise—with loosely 2-3 films being released every week. With that said, we need more quality films.” 

Nepal, today, has a total of 367 cinema halls registered under the film act, out of which about half are currently on operation. Poudel says that the Board aims to incorporate the e-ticketing system in all multiplexes and in aged cinema houses as well. 

Poudel, who is also the head of Gopi Krishna Movies and a member of Nepal Film Producer Association, was elected for a four-year long tenure.