In a first for Nepal, Elephants in the Fog wins Jury Prize at Cannes

PTI

Elephants in the Fog has made history at the Cannes Film Festival by becoming the first Nepali film to win a prize, securing the Un Certain Regard Jury Prize at its 79th edition.

The film is written and directed by debut filmmaker Abinash Bikram Shah and was also the first Nepali entry selected in the Un Certain Regard section, which showcases emerging global filmmakers.

Set in Thori in Nepal’s southern Terai region, the film follows a community of transgender women living on the margins of society.

It centres on Pirati, the matriarch of the Kinnar community, who dreams of escaping with her lover but is forced to confront a crisis when one of her daughters goes missing.

The narrative explores her struggle between personal desire and responsibility toward her community.

Shah dedicated the award to his team, highlighting the importance of making invisible lives visible through cinema.

The cast includes Pushpa Thing, Deepika Yadav, Jasmine Bishwakarma, Shanti Giri, Gauri Malla, and others.

The film is an international co-production involving Nepal, France, Germany, Brazil, and Norway.

Shah had earlier earned a Special Mention at Cannes for his short film Lori and has contributed to notable Nepali films like Kalo Pothi, Highway, and Tatini.

The win was widely celebrated in Nepal, with officials calling it a milestone for Nepali cinema on the global stage.