Prime Minister’s Award for best three films retained until ACC completes its investigation

Until the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) completes its investigation, three Bhutanese films, which won the Prime Minister’s Award at recently held 17^th National Film Awards, will be retained, says the Prime Minister at Meet the Press, this evening. The award includes Nu 3m for three best films.

Prime Minister told the media: “As long as ACC is continuing the investigation, we will have nothing to do with it. So the award is in abeyance. And this is what we conveyed to the film association of Bhutan. They seem to have announced it. That’s their business.”

In March, last year, the Director and Co-producer of Bhutanese Movie “Tshorwa-The Inner Call, Karma Lhatrul Rinpoche filed complaint to ACC, alleging the Bhutan Film Association (BFA) of manipulating the criteria in favour of some films, after knowing that best three films will get a cash prize of Nu 1m each under Prime Minister’s Award.

Following the investigation, ACC discovered serious procedural lapses for the selection of best three films. So, it asked the Chairperson of Civil Society Organisation Authority (CSOA) to take administrative actions against BFA officials.

However, CSOA, on March 1, this year wrote to the ACC that it has no legal rights to take actions against the BFA officials and requested the former deal with the matter. But, ACC told BBS News that they will consult the OAG and come up concrete decision in due course of time.

The cash prize of Nu 3m as Prime Minister’s Award comes from the Finance Ministry. “The idea was that the top three films could be screened across the country. The award is also a payment to release movies on DVD and to encourage the films to win international competitions,” said the Prime Minister.

During this year’s film awards, film entitled ‘Nge Tsawai Lama’ won the best film under Prime Minister’s Awards. ‘Hingtam Bangzoe’ and ‘Dhari Naaba’ came second and third respectively in the Prime Minister’s Award.

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