‘Elephants in the Fog’ Team Receives Grand Welcome After Cannes Victory

Nepali film ‘Elephants in the Fog’ team received a grand welcome at Tribhuvan International Airport after returning home from the globally renowned Cannes Film Festival with historic achievements.

Director Avinash Bikram Shah, producer Anup Paudel, and actress Pushpa Thing Lama were welcomed with traditional Nepali music, flower garlands, and celebrations by filmmakers, journalists, and supporters gathered at the airport.

The film created history by winning the prestigious Jury Prize in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival. It also became the first Nepali feature film ever selected in Cannes’ Official Selection, marking a major breakthrough for Nepal’s film industry on the international stage.

In addition to the Jury Prize, the film also received the Prix de la Meilleure Création Sonore 2026 / Best Sound Creation Award. The honor was presented under the Un Certain Regard selection by La Semaine du Son, recognizing the film’s powerful sound design, rhythm, musicality, and emotional impact.

The welcome ceremony was attended by Nepal’s Minister for Communications and Information Technology Bikram Timilsina, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Khadga Raj Paudel, and Film Development Board Chairman Dinesh DC, along with representatives from several film organizations and members of Nepal’s entertainment industry.

Government officials praised the achievement, calling it a proud moment for Nepali cinema and culture. Minister Timilsina stated that the government plans to encourage more alternative and internationally competitive films, while Minister Paudel described filmmakers as “unpaid cultural ambassadors” representing Nepal globally.

The Ministry of Communications is preparing a special honor program for the film team, while the Film Development Board Nepal has already announced a cash honor of NPR 250,000 for the team.

This year also marked the first official Nepali stall at the Cannes Film Festival, established through collaboration between the Nepal Tourism Board and the Film Development Board Nepal.

The success of ‘Elephants in the Fog’ is now being viewed as a turning point for Nepali cinema, proving that Nepali storytelling and technical craftsmanship can compete on the world stage.

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