European Union Film Festival opened in Kathmandu amid interactions among the top film producers and directors from Nepal and Europe. Moderated by film critic Sophia Pande, the ambassador of the European Union to Nepal Rensje Teerink highlighted the importance of films in promoting culture and depicting the reality of society.

The fifth edition of the European Union Film Festival Carpe Noctem (Seize the Night) was organized by European Union in association with the British Council and the Embassy of Switzerland.  The festival will continue till April 24 showing European Culture and lifestyle.

“The films presented in the film festival will show various social problems faced by European societies,” said ambassador Teerink.

Attended by Italian film director Donato Totunno, Nepalese film producers, script writer and director Chandra Kanta, director Neelu Doma Sherpa and producers and director Akash Adhikary, documentary director Mohan Rai expressed their views on Nepalese film industry.

  Italian film director Donato Rotunno shared his views on film making and challenges of film making. “Although the circumstances and scenario may be different, film producers and directors all over the world have similar kinds of problems,” said Italian film director Rotunno.

At a time when volumes of Nepalese films have increased, there is concern over the quality production. “One of the challenges in film making in Nepal is lack of script writer who can write the script with proper concept,” said Chandrakanta.

Producer Akash Adhikary sees there is an ample opportunity in Nepal. “If we produce the films meeting the choices as par with the audiences, Nepalese film producers do not need to worry about the market. I have produced 12 films in the last one decade, they all attracted quite a lot audiences,” said Adhikary.

Documentary producer Mohan Rai has different felling. “The problem with Nepalese film is that they don’t represent the reality of Nepalese society.  Script writer needs to do more research to develop a good concept,” said Rai. According to Rai, the government needs to provide protection for Nepalese film industry.

According to organizer, 25 films from 21 European countries will be displayed during the film festival. The festival launched with the exhibition of the film Baby (a) lone directed by Donato Rotunno, Luxembourg.