History Written at Cannes: Nepal’s Elephants in the Fog Wins Prestigious Jury Prize
Nepali cinema has scripted an unprecedented chapter of global glory as ‘Elephants in the Fog (Tiniharu)’ won the prestigious Jury Prize in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival. Directed by Abinash Bikram Shah, the film has made history by becoming the first-ever Nepali feature film to not only be selected for this prestigious category but to win a major award at Cannes.
The victory sparked massive celebrations during the closing ceremony in France, where actor Pushpa Thing Lama proudly wrapped the Nepali national flag around director Shah as the cast and crew cheered on stage.
Set against the backdrop of Thori, a forest village in Nepal’s southern Terai region, Elephants in the Fog is a poetic, high-stakes drama-thriller. It follows Pirati—played by real-life activist Pushpa Thing Lama—the matriarchal leader of a Kinnar (transgender) community facing a dual struggle for survival against systemic social exclusion and frequent wild elephant attacks.
By casting actual members of Nepal’s queer and marginalized communities, Shah brought authentic, local narratives straight to international cinema’s highest platform. The film initially shook international audiences at its Salle Debussy premiere, earning an emotional 8-minute standing ovation from global critics and attendees.
Reflecting on the monumental triumph from France, director Abinash Bikram Shah shared a powerful message that resonates deeply with the spirit of modern independent Nepali filmmaking: “Cinema has the power to see even through darkness. For our story to reach this festival and receive such recognition means the invisible has been made visible.”
This is not Shah’s first time putting Nepal on the Cannes map. His short film Lori previously earned a Special Jury Mention at the 75th edition of the festival. This latest milestone consolidates his status as a vanguard of contemporary South Asian cinema.
