Nepali Cinema Makes History at Cannes with ‘Elephants in the Fog’

In a landmark achievement for the Himalayan nation, the Nepali feature film Elephants in the Fog has captured the prestigious Jury Prize in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival. Directed by Abinash Bikram Shah, the film is the first-ever Nepali production to be selected for this competitive category, marking a watershed moment for the country’s burgeoning film industry.

Set in the village of Thori in Nepal’s southern Terai plains, the narrative offers a poignant, raw look into the lives of a community of transgender and intersex women. The story follows Pirati, a disciplined matriarch who finds her resolve tested as she struggles to reconcile her responsibilities with a secret dream of a “normal” life—all while her community lives on the margins of a society that frequently rejects them.

The win is being hailed not only as a triumph for Shah—whose short film Lori previously earned a Special Jury Mention at Cannes—but as a vital step in bringing long-marginalized stories to the global stage. Upon receiving the award, Shah spoke emotionally about the importance of visibility, noting that the recognition helps “pull those margins into the light.” With this historic win, Elephants in the Fog has firmly established Nepal as a bold, emerging voice in world cinema.