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Nepali Film Makes History at Cannes 2026
23 May
Summary
- First Nepali film wins award at Cannes Film Festival.
- Film won Un Certain Regard Jury Prize at the 79th edition.
- Story follows transgender women in a Nepal forest village.
In a groundbreaking achievement for Nepali cinema, "Elephants in the Fog" has secured a prestigious award at the Cannes Film Festival 2026. The film was honored with the Un Certain Regard Jury Prize at the 79th edition of the festival.
Written and directed by Abinash Bikram Shah, this marks his feature directorial debut. The film's selection for the Un Certain Regard section itself was historic, being the first Nepali title in this category. The story is set in Thori, a village nestled in Nepal's southern Terai region, and centers on the experiences of transgender women.
The narrative follows Pirati, the leader of a Kinnar community, whose aspirations for a new life are complicated by the mysterious disappearance of one of her daughters. Director Abinash Bikram Shah emphasized cinema's power to explore hidden realities, stating the award brings marginalized stories into the light. The film is a multinational co-production featuring a cast including Pushpa Thing and Deepika Yadav.
