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Organized by the Film Development Board in collaboration with Ilam Municipality and promoted by Koshi Province and the Nepal Tourism Board, the “Children’s Film Festival, Ilam” began on Jestha 5 and concluded on Friday with a grand closing ceremony featuring various programs. Focused on the triangular coordination of cinema, education, and tourism, the festival played a significant role in positioning Ilam as a promising hub for film production and exhibition.
Main Activities:
• Through a children’s film-making workshop, 37 students received practical training in screenwriting, directing, and acting. Under the guidance of renowned artist Badri Adhikari, their short film “Hazar Sapanaharu” (A Thousand Dreams) was powerfully showcased, conveying a message of creativity and confidence.
• As part of the Cinema Literacy Campaign, mobile screenings were held in Ilam Bazaar and at schools in Shree Antu, where students, parents, and the general public experienced cinema in a new way. The biographical film “Anjila,” based on the life of Ilam’s footballer Anjila Tumbapo, was screened on an LED screen at Ilam Bazaar in the presence of the film’s producer and director.
• Under the Children’s Film Exhibition segment, films such as “Shilawala,” “Ghurra,” “The School Wall,” and “Paulo” were screened at Gautam Buddha Hall.
• During the “Celebrity Interaction with Children” program, noted figures like Basundhara Bhusal, Gauri Malla, Mohan Niraula, Santosh Lohani, Lon Chams, Prem Kumar Shrestha, Shridev Bhattarai, Balkrishna Niraula, Dinesh DC, Janakdeep Parajuli, Poonam Kshetri, and others engaged in open conversations with children.
The closing ceremony was held with grandeur at the Ilam Municipality Assembly Hall on Friday. Among the distinguished guests were Ilam Mayor Kedar Thapa, Deputy Mayor Bishnu Kumari Limbu, ward chairpersons, school teachers and students, parents, and prominent artists and filmmakers including Basundhara Bhusal, Gauri Malla, Mohan Niraula, Radheshyam Lekali, Janakdeep Parajuli, Poonam Kshetri, and Shridev Bhattarai.
The event is also expected to play a key role in promoting two film theaters currently under construction in Ilam Municipality with the support of the provincial government.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, Mayor Thapa said, “Such festivals are effective in promoting Ilam’s cultural and natural beauty through films. The municipality is fully committed to facilitating filmmakers interested in shooting here.”
Film Development Board Chairperson Dinesh DC remarked, “This festival has shown that cinema can encompass not only creativity but also education and tourism. We believe it will contribute to promoting Koshi Province Visit Year 2082.”
For tourism promotion, celebrities toured Ilam wearing T-shirts that read “Ilam for Film Shooting,” conveying a strong message that Ilam is an ideal destination for filmmaking.
Led by the Film Development Board, the festival significantly contributed to enhancing children’s creative potential, spreading cinema awareness at the local level, and promoting tourism in Ilam.
