‘Private Property’ Earns Pardo for Change Special Mention at Locarno 2026
Filmmaker Deepak Rauniyar has earned another international recognition, with his latest short film Private Property receiving a Special Mention in the Pardo for Change category at the 79th Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland.
The recognition was announced as part of the festival’s 2026 awards following the world premiere of Private Property at Locarno. Directed by Rauniyar and co-written with Asha Magrati, the film competed in Pardi di Domani – Concorso Corti d’Autore, the festival section dedicated to auteur short films.
Sharing the jury statement on social media, Rauniyar revealed that the film was praised for the precision with which it explores capitalism, migration, assimilation and survival.
The jury described Private Property as offering “a profound reflection on capitalism, migration, assimilation, and survival,” while examining what happens to human principles and humanity when the struggle to secure and maintain a place of one’s own becomes a matter of survival.
The statement also highlighted how the film explores a deeper contradiction: people struggling against exclusion can sometimes end up reproducing the very systems that exclude them.
Referring to the film’s conclusion, the jury said its open ending leaves viewers with “a sense of unease,” allowing the tensions and contradictions of the story to continue resonating beyond its final moment.
“The Special Mention goes to Private Property directed by Deepak Rauniyar and co-written with Asha Magrati,” the jury statement concluded.
The recognition marks another significant international moment for Rauniyar, whose films have consistently taken Nepali stories, perspectives and socially rooted themes to major global film festivals.
What is ‘Private Property’ about?
Running for approximately 18 minutes, Private Property unfolds over a single night at a gas station in the United States.
The story brings together a Nepali immigrant and an unhoused military veteran, whose encounter develops into a tense exploration of migration, race, identity and belonging in contemporary American society.
Although centred on a specific encounter, the film addresses wider questions surrounding immigration, displacement, assimilation and survival (watch video clip here).
The jury’s statement adds another layer to that interpretation, highlighting the film’s examination of how the struggle for security and belonging can push individuals into difficult moral and social contradictions.
The short film is an international co-production involving the United States, Nepal, France and Australia.
It is produced by Aadi Films, in co-production with France-based Salt for Sugar Films and Australian production and distribution company Screenxcope. Asha Magrati, Kiersten Houser, Kim Carr and Sheldon Chau are among the producers.
From Locarno selection to international recognition
Before arriving at the festival, Private Property had already attracted attention after being selected for Locarno’s prestigious Pardi di Domani programme.
It was also chosen as part of the Pardo for Change initiative, which recognises cinema engaging with urgent ethical, social, cultural and environmental questions.
Its Special Mention now gives the film added international visibility following its Locarno world premiere and as it continues its festival journey.
The film is represented internationally by Parallax Films.
Another international milestone for Deepak Rauniyar
Rauniyar has established himself as one of Nepal’s most internationally recognised contemporary filmmakers.
His feature film Highway premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival, while White Sun travelled extensively on the international festival circuit after premiering in Venice. More recently, Pooja Sir was selected for the Venice Film Festival.
With Private Property, Rauniyar has returned to the short-film format while continuing his interest in stories shaped by identity, social tension, migration and the experiences of people navigating complex cultural and political environments.
The Locarno jury’s emphasis on capitalism, assimilation and survival also reflects the broader social questions at the heart of the film.
The Special Mention extends Rauniyar’s international trajectory and gives another Nepal-linked production a notable presence at one of Europe’s major film festivals.
For Nepali cinema, the recognition comes at a time when filmmakers from the country are gaining increasing visibility across major international festivals, bringing locally connected voices and globally relevant stories to wider audiences.
