The Nepali feature film Elephants in the Fog has made history at the 79th Cannes Film Festival in France. It has become the first film ever from Nepal to win an award at Cannes, taking home the Un Certain Regard Jury Prize.
The Un Certain Regard section is the second most prestigious category at the festival. It runs right alongside the main competition and focuses on celebrating unique storytelling and talented new filmmakers.
Here is a breakdown of the information and all the individuals involved in this monumental achievement:
The Plot of the Film
The movie is set in Thori, a forested village located in Nepal’s southern Terai plains, where wild elephants live. The story focuses on a family and the lives of transgender women who live on the edges of society.
The main character is Pirati, the leader of a Kinnar (transgender) community. She dreams of leaving her current life behind to live with the man she loves. However, when one of her daughters goes missing, she is forced to investigate. Pirati must choose between her personal freedom and her responsibilities to her community.
Key People and Filmmakers Involved
- Abinash Bikram Shah (also written as Avinash Vikram Shah): He wrote and directed the movie, making his official feature film debut. In his emotional acceptance speech on stage, he dedicated the award to his team and spoke about how the film brings invisible communities into the light. This is his second big win at Cannes, as his short film Lori previously earned a Special Mention. He has also written popular films like Kalo Pothi, Highway, Tatini, and Shambhala.
- The Cast members: The actors who brought the story to life include Pushpa Thing, Deepika Yadav, Jasmine Bishwakarma, Shanti Giri, Gauri Malla, Maotse Gurung, Sanjay Gupta Dura, Mahima Nawabag, and Akanksha Karki.
- The Producers: The film was produced by Anup Paudel and Prachanda Man Shrestha.
- The Production and Distribution Partners: The movie is a joint international project between Nepalese companies—Underground Talkies Nepal and Jayanthi Creations—alongside co-production partners from France, Germany, Brazil, and Norway. Patrick Subedi, a distributor and co-producer, shared that the film received an over eight-minute standing ovation at its premiere.
Public Figures and Officials Celebrating the Win
- Dr. Bikram Timilsina (Minister for Information and Communication): He extended congratulations on behalf of the Government of Nepal, stating that the film successfully brought Nepali culture and social reality to the world stage.
- Sunita Dangol (Acting Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City): She attended the festival in traditional Newari attire and publicly thanked the crew for expanding the possibilities of what Nepali cinema can achieve.
- Manisha Koirala: The famous actress attended a celebration party for the film’s team prior to the festival and publicly praised their boundary-pushing creativity.
- The Film Development Board of Nepal: The board officially celebrated the premiere as a massive historical milestone that proves the global competitiveness of Nepali cinema.