Nepali cinema celebrated a proud and emotional moment at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival after the film Elephants in the Fog received an impressive 7 minutes standing ovation during its world premiere.
Directed by Abinash Bikram Shah, the film premiered on Wednesday under the highly respected “Un Certain Regard” section at Cannes, a category known for showcasing unique storytelling and artistic cinema from around the world.
According to co-producer and distributor Patrick Subedi, the response inside the theater was deeply emotional. Audience members stood and applauded for more than eight minutes after the screening ended, creating what many described as a historic moment for Nepali cinema on the global stage.
“People kept clapping while standing. The entire hall was filled with emotion. It felt like Nepali cinema was making history at Cannes,” Subedi shared after the premiere.
The film tells the story of struggles, identity, and social realities faced by Nepal’s transgender and queer community. Its emotional depth and human-centered storytelling have already started drawing attention from international media and critics.
Renowned entertainment publication Variety published an early positive review, praising director Shah for portraying the marginalized community with sensitivity and humanity rather than stereotypes. The review highlighted the film’s emotional honesty and visual storytelling.
Several guests attended the screening, including Sunita Dangol, who represented Kathmandu on the international stage. Nepal’s Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Bikram Timsina, also congratulated the team through social media.
In his message, the minister stated that films like “Elephants in the Fog” are helping elevate Nepali cinema internationally and strengthen Nepal’s cultural identity across global film platforms. He further expressed confidence that Nepali filmmakers will continue achieving major milestones in world cinema.
Although the premiere took place on Wednesday night, the official red carpet event for the film is scheduled for Thursday evening, adding even more excitement around the movie’s growing international recognition.
With emotional storytelling, strong performances, and global attention from Cannes, “Elephants in the Fog” is already becoming one of the most talked-about Nepali films of the year.
