The Cinema Times, Kathmandu – TheNational Film Awards brought a dazzling celebration honoring cine industry’s finest talents organized at Shital Niwas with Honorable President Ram Chandra Poudel gracing the event. Among the big winners were Bipin Karki, Swastima Khadka and Nischal Basnet.

Bipin Karki, the most versatile actor in Nepali cinema, his nuanced performance in ‘Prasad 2’ earned him the Best Actor National Film Award. Swastima Khadka claimed the Best Actress National Film Award for ‘Dimaag Kharaab’ with a performance that was both powerful and poignant. The multi-talented Nischal Basnet known for his ground breaking storytelling won the Best Director National Film Award for ‘Dimaag Kharaab’.

Celebrated for its strong narrative, ‘Bulaki’ was crowned the Best Film National Film Award with Shiva Dhakal winning Best Cinematographer and Raj Bahadur Sane winning Best Writer award for Bulaki.

Mitra D Gurung grabbed the Best Editor Award for ‘Mahajatra’. Limbu cinema ‘Lojima’ won the Best Indigenous Language cinema. The jury encouragement award was given to Swastima Khadka for ‘Tulki’ and ‘Jaari’ as the Best Commercial Cinema.

Similarly, actors Taiyab Shah, Bidhya Karki, Buddhi Tamang, Sabita Gurung; Exhibitor Krishna Prasad Raymajhi and Narendra Maharjan; action director Narayan Pradhan; Director Bhoj Bahadur Gurung and Music Composer Amul Karki Dhali were also felicitated.

Satidevi, Sugup(Limbu) and ‘Markali (Gurung) won Special award.  The event also felicitated Nepal’s first cinema ‘Aama’ actor Chaitya Devi Singh with lifetime achievement award.

The Award  ceremony was a testament to the growth and evolution of Nepali cinema.