Kathmandu — The inaugural edition of the Sikkim International Film Festival has been successfully concluded. Organized by the Government of Sikkim, the festival marked a significant milestone in the region’s cultural and cinematic landscape.
Representing Nepal at the prestigious event was Jenish Pahari, Founder and Managing Director of Butterfly Films, who participated as the only female film distributor from Nepal.
During the festival, she took part in key panel discussions titled “Building the Future: Strengthening Films in Sikkim” and “Producers Conversation.” These sessions brought together industry leaders to explore opportunities for cross-border collaboration and co-production. On the occasion, Pahari shared insights from Nepal’s evolving and sustainable local film ecosystem, presenting strategies that could be adopted in Sikkim.
Highlighting the growth of Nepal’s film industry, she emphasized the effective utilization of the Nepali diaspora in expanding market reach. She also noted that Nepali films have recently been dominating the domestic box office, with a growing audience preference for local content.
Meanwhile, Pahari also participated in an exclusive closed-door roundtable discussion with Rajeev Masand, Chief Operating Officer of Dharma Productions. Senior officials from the Government of Sikkim were also present, where discussions focused on policy development and potential collaborations to strengthen the regional film industry.
In recognition of her contribution to the Nepali film industry and her role in promoting regional collaboration, Pahari was honored by Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang.
Her participation is expected to further strengthen cultural and cinematic ties between Nepal and India. Butterfly Films continues to play a significant role in bringing regional stories to the international stage.
