At the end of NSDG’s second edition in Thimphu, two winners were presented with certificates and cash awards of USD 1,000 and USD 700. Five aspiring authors were chosen from 33 applications to participate in the program, where they developed their concepts into feature film scripts. The goal of NSDG, which was started by Golan Pictures in partnership with the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and Employment’s Department of Media, Creativity, and Intellectual Property, is to support Bhutanese filmmakers and screenwriters. Tashi Wangmo, the secretary of MoICE, reiterated the government’s ongoing commitment to assisting the creative sector.
The 200-seat movie theaters will be constructed in Bajo, Wangdue, and Samdrupjongkhar, with completion anticipated in July 2026. Chand, the founder of Golan Pictures, explained how the NSDG came to be. Tashi Gyeltshen, a national specialist, conducted a 10-day intensive mentoring as part of this year’s program. International experts provided assistance through interactive sessions. By using their funds to refine their screenplays and submit their ideas to foreign markets, the winners hope to draw in international financiers to help realize their feature films.
