Film journalist Sriju Saral has won the first Film Critics Award in the film critics competition organized by the Delegation of the European Union to Nepal.
Similarly, Prasun Sangroula won the second Film Critics Award in the competition.
The winners were announced in a program organized by the Delegation to celebrate the success of the 2024 Nepal European Union Film Festival (NEUFF) on Tuesday afternoon.
"First of all, I am very surprised! I am also feeling honored to be announced as the winner of this dignified competition. Also feeling challenged to learn more and do much better ahead," Sriju Saral said, responding to her winning the award.
"I feel honored and proud to have secured the second award in the film critics competition," Prasun Sangroula, the runner-up of the competition, said.
Sangroula has further said that this award has motivated him to produce even better work in the upcoming days.
The film reviews were evaluated by a three-member jury comprising senior film journalist and scriptwriter Samipya Raj Timalsena, noted poet Bimala Tumkhewa, and a representative of the delegation.
As it was a contest, two winners had to be declared based on the criteria the jury had developed for the competition.
Speaking at the award distribution ceremonhy, chief jury Samipya Raj Timalsena said, "I am very happy to share that all the film critics who participated in the contest are accomplished in the art of film criticism."
Sriju Saral had reviewed a short Nepali film 'Phera' (Whirl) directed by Anil Kurmie, and Irish film 'The Banshees of Inisherin' directed by Martin McDonagh.
Similarly, Prasun Sangroula had reviewed Bulgarian film 'The Naked Truth About Zhiguli Band' directed by Victor Bojinov and short Nepali film 'Rato Pachheuri' by Miraz Roshan Thakuri.
A total of 14 contestants had participated in the competition, submitting reviews of a minimum of one Nepali short film and one European film that were screened in 2024 NEUFF.
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