Historic Moment for Nepali Cinema
Nepal created history at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival after Elephants in the Fog won the prestigious Un Certain Regard Jury Prize, marking the country’s first major victory at the globally celebrated film festival. The film, directed by acclaimed filmmaker Abinash Bikram Shah, also became the first Nepali feature film to be officially selected in the Un Certain Regard section at Cannes.
The achievement has been widely celebrated across South Asia, with filmmakers and cinema lovers calling it a landmark moment for independent Nepali storytelling.
Story Focuses on Marginalised Lives
Set in Nepal’s Terai region, Elephants in the Fog tells the story of a transgender community living on the margins of society. The film follows Pirati, a resilient leader searching for one of her missing companions while navigating loneliness, identity and survival in a deeply conservative environment.
Critics at Cannes praised the film for its emotional depth, realistic storytelling and sensitive portrayal of communities rarely represented in mainstream cinema.
Director Dedicates Award to Invisible Voices
During the award ceremony, Shah dedicated the honour to marginalised people whose stories often remain unseen. He said cinema has the power to “bring invisible lives into the light,” a statement that resonated strongly with audiences and industry professionals attending the festival.
Shah had earlier gained international recognition for his short film Lori, which received a Special Mention at Cannes in 2022 and established him as one of Nepal’s most promising filmmakers.
International Recognition for South Asian Cinema
Elephants in the Fog is an international co-production involving Nepal, France, Germany, Brazil and Norway. The cast includes Pushpa Thing Lama, Deepika Yadav and Jasmine Bishwakarma, whose performances have been widely appreciated by critics.
Film experts believe the victory could open new global opportunities for Nepali filmmakers and encourage stronger international collaborations in South Asian independent cinema. Social media platforms across Nepal and India were flooded with congratulatory messages soon after the announcement.
The top prize in the Un Certain Regard section went to Austrian filmmaker Sandra Wollner for her drama Everytime, while Elephants in the Fog secured one of the festival’s highest honours.
