The Film Critics Society of Nepal (FICSON) hosted its annual Film Critics Award on June 20, Saturday, at the Nepal Tourism Board in Bhrikutimandap, Kathmandu.

The society honoured a few films from the last two years at the event. Organisers explained they had planned to hold an event last year to commemorate films made that year. But in light of the September protests and the subsequent announcement of the March polls, they decided to wait until after the elections to host a joint awards show for films released in the last two years. Beloved actor and comedian Madan Kirshna Shrestha was present at the event as the Chief Guest.

For the 2024 films, Min Bahadur Bham and Thinley Lhamo won Best Director and Best Actor for the widely celebrated movie ‘Shambhala’. Similarly, Dayahang Rai won best actor for the film ‘Gaun Aayeko Bato’. Films ‘Sano Sansar’, ‘Aakha’, ‘Rajagunj’, ‘Boksi ko Ghar’ and ‘Purna Bahadur ko Sarangi’ all won awards in different categories.

For the films produced in 2025, ‘Unko Sweater’ and ‘Bhuthan’ won in all but one category. ‘Unko Sweater’ won best film, while veteran actor Hari Bansa Acharya won best actor, and Nabin Chauhan won best director for the film. Anna Sharma won best actress for her performance in the film ‘Rammita ko Pirati’.

Speaking at the event, Madan Krishna Shrestha congratulated the winners and celebrated how far Nepali cinema has come. He spoke about the admiration he felt for everyone in the room. Both Bansa Acharya and Krishna Shrestha praised Daya Hang Rai for breaking stereotypes about what community movie leads can come from.

“People used to think only people who looked like me could be leads. You have changed that with your work,” Hari Bansa joked. He and Madan Krishna both expressed their desire to work with Daya Hang in the future.

Swastima Khadka also celebrated the global success of Nepali cinema in recent years. She congratulated the teams behind the films ‘Shambhala’ and ‘Elephants in the Fog’ during the event.