News Summary
Prepared by AI, editorially reviewed.
- The Nepali narrative film ‘Elephants in the Fog’ has been selected for the first time in the ‘Un Certain Regard’ section of the 79th Cannes Film Festival.
- The film tells the story of ‘Pirati,’ a leader of the Kinnar community, who faces a painful choice between love and responsibility while searching for her missing daughter.
- Director Avinashvikram Shah expressed that the film was made with honesty and is eager to see audience reactions.
Producer Anup Paudel of the film ‘Elephants in the Fog,’ selected in the ‘Un Certain Regard’ section of the 79th Cannes Film Festival, shares, “It feels like a dream come true.”
This marks the first time any Nepali narrative film has been chosen for Cannes.
Written and directed by Avinashvikram Shah, the film unfolds in a small Nepali village nestled deep in the forest, home to wild elephants. It portrays the story of ‘Pirati,’ a leader of the Kinnar community, who dreams of a simple life. However, when her daughter goes missing, she is compelled to embark on a search. Along the way, she confronts a heart-wrenching decision between love and duty.
Honesty and Giving Voice
This selection represents a new milestone for Nepali cinema. In recent years, Nepali films have also been showcased at other prestigious international festivals such as Venice, Berlin, and Busan.
Director Shah is also enthusiastic about this achievement. He states, “This is the result of many years of hard work. The film centers on the story of a transgender mother. I am eager to see how audiences receive the character and the community she represents.”
“I made this film with complete honesty,” Shah adds. “Now I am eager to observe how the audience will respond.”
In 2022, Shah and Paudel had previously brought their short film ‘Lori’ to Cannes, which won a ‘Special Mention.’ They credit that experience with paving the way for ‘Elephants in the Fog.’
At that time, the new film was in development and was part of the Cannes ‘La Fabrique’ project market, where they met a French producer. The success of ‘Lori’ lent momentum and confidence for international investment and collaboration in the new project.
During its development, the film was also selected for the US ‘Global Media Makers’ program and the ‘Asian Project Market’ at the Busan International Film Festival. Shah began writing it in 2021.
As a writer, his films have been screened at international festivals, but this represents his biggest achievement as a writer-director to date.
His films often focus on characters from marginalized communities, and this film continues that trend. The mother-daughter relationship is another significant theme. While ‘Lori’ portrayed a biological bond, this work explores chosen family ties.
Beyond Traditional Casting
Working with characters from marginalized communities provided fresh perspectives but also posed challenges. The biggest was casting—the search for transgender actors took nearly two years.
The producers connected with individuals and organizations within Nepal’s LGBTQ community nationwide.
“I wanted to work with non-professional actors,” Shah explains. “We avoided casting a cisgender male actor for the transgender female role, as it would undermine the character’s authenticity.”
A workshop involving 30 participants was conducted, followed by a multi-stage selection process. Theatre artist Sudam CK provided training during the five phases of the workshop.
The lead role of ‘Pirati’ remained uncertain until the final stages, but gradually the chosen actress deeply understood the character and delivered a strong performance. According to Shah, the transgender actors not only acted but also offered guidance during production.
Cannes and Expectations
This year’s Cannes Festival will run from May 12 to 23. The Nepali film community is excited about having a feature film screened there for the first time. Shah says the film is not only entertainment but also a voice.
“Perhaps the film’s voices touched the selection committee,” he reflects. “Technically, the film meets international standards.” Producer Paudel describes the story as both local and universal. “The film offers a fresh perspective,” he adds.
The selection at Cannes is a proud moment for the nation and signals that Nepali cinema has a voice that the world must recognize. However, films showcased at such festivals from Nepal often face commercial challenges at home.
Both Shah and Paudel are well aware of this reality and have worked to ensure the film remains engaging. “While writing, I considered a broad audience,” Shah remarks. “The film is somewhat briskly paced and crafted with genre elements.”
The movie is primarily a family drama but also includes thriller elements expected to attract viewers.
In recent years, family dramas have done well at Nepalese box offices, as films like ‘Purnabahadur ko Sarangi’ and ‘Paran’ demonstrate. After its world premiere, the film is set to release in Nepal, with plans also to take it to other international festivals.
Nepalese distributor T-Focus is aiming for a release date around November, although the final decision is pending. In closing, Shah and Paudel also offer a message to emerging filmmakers.
“Keep working,” says Shah. “Challenges will come but they are temporary. Be honest. Don’t make films trying to imitate Cannes or Venice. Watch many films.” Paudel adds, “Patience and dedication are essential. Most importantly, find your own voice.”
