Nepali Filmmakers Clash Over Oscar Submission: Bribery Allegations Fly

On September 27, 2025, a controversy erupted in the Nepali film industry over the selection of "Anjila" as the country's submission for the Academy Awards' International Feature Film category. A group of prominent Nepali filmmakers have filed a formal complaint with the Academy, alleging procedural violations and conflicts of interest in the selection process.

The director of "Anjila," Milan Chams, has fired back, claiming that the director of a competing film, "Gunyo Cholo," offered up to $100,000 to get "Anjila" withdrawn from consideration. Chams alleges that the rival director, Samundra Bhatta, boasted about her connections with the selection committee and expressed confidence that her film would be chosen.

The complaint from the rebel filmmakers, led by Deepak Rauniyar and Binod Paudel, claims that the selection process was shrouded in secrecy, with the application window reduced from the usual month-long period to just nine days during a national crisis. They also allege that Jeevan Kumar Parajuli, who served on the voting committee, also acted as the media coordinator for "Anjila," creating a clear conflict of interest.

The Academy has declined to comment on the ongoing controversy, but the filmmakers are demanding that Nepal restart the entire selection process with a transparent, 30-day application window and independent oversight. They insist that their request concerns the process, not the artistic merits of any single film.