The ‘Rara Film, Tourism, and Climate Summit’ Concludes at Rara Lake Under the Second Karnali International Film Festival

The Rara Film, Tourism, and Climate Summit, held under the Second Karnali International Film Festival, has concluded at Rara Lake. The summit featured in-depth discussions and debates on various dimensions of cinema, tourism promotion, and climate change.

The chief guest of the event was Mr. Manjan Bahadur Karki, Chief of the District Coordination Committee, Mugu. Special guests included Mr. Dinesh DC, Chairman of the Film Development Board; Mr. Bishnu Kumar Bham, Mayor of Rara Chhayanath Municipality; Mr. Top B.C., Chairperson of Guranse Rural Municipality; senior actress and director Deepa Shree Niraula; actor Pradeep Khadka; and senior officer of Nepal Tourism Board Mr. Gopal Bhandari, among others.

According to festival director Mr. Chakra Bahadur Chand, the summit, divided into two sessions focusing on cinema, tourism, and climate change, featured detailed discussions on Karnali’s international identity through local culture, language, tourism infrastructure, and cinema.

Actor Pradeep Khadka, who is also a goodwill ambassador for the festival, remarked that the event played a crucial role in establishing Rara Lake as a world-class filming destination. Recalling his filming experience of Prem Geet 2, he emphasized the significant contribution of cinema to promoting tourism in Rara and the Karnali region.

Expressing concern over the impacts of climate change in Karnali and other regions, Khadka stressed the need for a unified voice from Karnali residents to raise awareness and demand compensation for the damages. He also announced plans to film his new movie Chabbis Karod in Karnali soon.

Film Development Board Chairman Dinesh DC stated that the festival had revealed the potential of cinema in Karnali and shared that there are plans to invite influential figures from Bollywood to Rara for film shoots. He mentioned ongoing coordination with federal, provincial, and local governments to develop various locations in Karnali as open studios.

Director and producer Deepa Shree Niraula, experiencing Rara’s unparalleled beauty for the first time, expressed her commitment to bringing authentic Karnali stories to the screen.

Mayor Bishnu Kumar Bham of Rara Chhayanath Municipality noted a significant increase in Rara’s publicity after Prem Geet 2 and pledged to institutionalize such activities through policy. Gopal Bhandari, Senior Officer at the Nepal Tourism Board, emphasized the need to jointly promote film and tourism.

The event saw active participation from Guranse Rural Municipality Chair Top B.C., Soru Rural Municipality Vice Chair Keshar Jung Shahi, several ward chairpersons, and local representatives. They expressed their commitment to collaborate, stating that such summits have brought Karnali’s voice to national and international platforms.

Festival director Chakra Bahadur Chand mentioned that the festival is being organized as part of a campaign to highlight local potential through cinema with a focus on Karnali. Advisor Dr. Mahendra Kumar Malla said that a wave of awareness is rising in Karnali, and the festival is further strengthening this movement.

Previously held in Surkhet and Dailekh, the closing and awards ceremony of the festival will take place in Kathmandu. Conducted under the slogan “Let’s travel Karnali, let’s watch Karnali,” the festival aims to promote Nepali cinema while also bringing tourism and climate issues of the Karnali region to the international stage, according to Chakra Bahadur Chand.