Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli officially announced the commencement of the construction of ‘Cinepa:’, an indoor film studio, in Banepa, Kavre, on Monday.
Unveiling the foundation plaque during a program held at the Prime Minister’s residence in Baluwatar, Oli described the day as a “turning point” for the Nepali film industry. “From now on, our films will be made indoors, that too within a state-of-the-art facility,” he said.
The studio is set to be built on 41 ropanis of land across Wards 10 and 13 of Banepa Municipality, with a target completion year of 2026. The estimated cost of the project is NPR 390 million, and it is expected to make Nepal’s film industry more sustainable.
The Prime Minister also suggested that the studio should include units for dubbing, music recording, and other technology-related functions. He mentioned that during his previous term, he had proposed similar projects — a film city in Dolakha and a studio in Palungtar — but those plans could not materialize due to disagreements among the artists themselves.
At the event, Minister for Communications and Information Technology Prithvi Subba Gurung provided an update on legal reforms in the film sector. He stated that the Film Act, Media Council Bill, and Social Media Bill had been tabled in Parliament, reaffirming the government’s commitment to modernizing outdated laws.
Former minister and Member of Parliament Gokul Baskota acknowledged the role of local representatives in making land available for the studio and praised their contributions. Veteran filmmaker Nir Shah recommended the creation of a multipurpose, technology-driven studio. Dinesh DC, Chairperson of the Film Development Board, announced that a real-time box office system would be launched from next week, emphasizing that “a positive mindset can make the impossible possible.”
The initiative is seen as a significant step forward, with many viewing it as a sign that the Nepali film industry is once again dreaming big. But the critical question remains: where will this studio ultimately take Nepali cinema?