Kathmandu University officially launched the Master’s in Film Studies (MFS) programme on Monday during a press meet organised by the Department of Languages and Mass Communication (DoLMC) under the School of Arts.

Claimed as ‘Nepal’s first’, the programme will commence from February at the School of Arts campus in Hattiban, Lalitpur.

The two-year, 66-credit MFS programme is designed to equip students with a foundation in film theory, history, aesthetics, and cultural studies, while developing filmmaking skills relevant to academia, media, and the film industry.

Speaking at the event, the Chairperson of Nepal Film Development Board, Dinesh DC, highlighted the growing need for well-equipped studios, high-technology infrastructure, and real-time box office systems to strengthen Nepal’s film industry.

Emphasising the importance of formal education in filmmaking, he stated that films created by academically trained professionals would meet international standards and enhance Nepal’s global cinematic presence.

The MFS curriculum spans core areas such as Film Form and Narrative, Film Theory and Analysis, Narrative Design and Screenwriting, Film Production, Natyashastra and Indigenous Aesthetics, Artificial Intelligence and Contemporary Film Issues, Documentary Cultures, and Research Methods in Film Studies.

The programme also requires students to produce multiple short films and complete a graduation film project, supported by seminars, critiques, and research-based coursework.