Nepali film ‘Elephants in the Fog (Tiniharu)’ has been selected in the Un Certain Regard section of the Cannes Film Festival, marking the first time a Nepali feature has entered the category, considered the second most prestigious after the main competition.

The film, directed by Abinash Bikram Shah, will compete for the Un Certain Regard Prize, Best Director and the Jury Prize. The section highlights emerging filmmakers and distinctive storytelling voices.

Shah said the selection fulfilled a long-held goal after his short film ‘Lori’ was screened at Cannes in 2022. “Being selected at a festival of this scale is itself significant. I had promised myself I would return with a feature,” he said.

According to Shah, the film took around five years to complete. He described the process as a rollercoaster, from writing in isolation to the collaborative intensity of production and post-production.

The film follows a family living in a settlement affected by elephant attacks, focusing on the mother-daughter relationship. It represents sexual and minority communities, with actors from those communities in lead roles. The cast includes Pushpa Thing, Deepika Yadav, Jasmine Bishwakarma, Shanti Giri, Gauri Malla, Maotse Gurung, Sanjay Gupta Dura, Mahima Nawabag and Akanksha Karki.

Producer Anup Paudel said he received the selection news via email while taking an online class. “I closed the session immediately and took a moment to process it before celebrating alone,” he said.

The film is a co-production between Nepali companies Underground Talkies Nepal and Jayanthi Creations, with partners from France, Germany, Brazil and Norway. Another producer, Prachanda Man Shrestha, said the selection was a matter of pride for Nepali cinema.

Shah’s earlier short, ‘Lori’, received a Special Mention at the 75th edition of Cannes, becoming the first Nepali short to earn that recognition. His previous writing credits include ‘Kalo Pothi,’ ‘Highway’ and ‘Tatini’, all screened at international festivals.

The Film Development Board, in collaboration with the Nepal Tourism Board, has also booked a stall at Cannes this year.

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Elephants in the Fog

Director: Abinash Bikram Shah

Producer: Anup Paudel

Duration: 103 minutes 

Year: 2026