From TikTok to Cannes: How ‘Elephants in the Fog’ Made Nepal’s Historic Un Certain Regard Breakthrough
The film 'Elephants in the Fog' marks a historic achievement for Nepal as it becomes the first Nepali film selected for the Un Certain Regard section at the Cannes Film Festival. Directed by Abinash Bikram Shah, the film explores the lives of the Kinnar community in Nepal, focusing on themes of resilience amidst public hostility. Shah's dedication to authentically portraying the story of a trans woman reflects his commitment to the community and the narrative's integrity.
- ▪Abinash Bikram Shah was inspired to create 'Elephants in the Fog' after observing the resilience of Kinnars on TikTok during the pandemic.
- ▪The film is set in Thori, a village in Nepal's southern Terai plains, and follows the story of Pirati, a matriarch of a Kinnar household.
- ▪Shah has spent nearly two years engaging with Kinnar communities to ensure an authentic representation in his film.
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| Original publisher | Variety |
| Canonical URL | https://variety.com/2026/film/festivals/abinash-bikram-shah-elephants-in-the-fog-cannes-interview-1236752119/ |
| Publication time | Mon, 18 May 2026 06:29:00 +0000 |
| Retrieval time | 2026-05-18T06:34:56.099Z |
| Last seen | 2026-05-18T06:34:56.099Z |
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Home Film Festivals May 17, 2026 11:29pm PT From TikTok to Cannes: How ‘Elephants in the Fog’ Made Nepal’s Historic Un Certain Regard Breakthrough By Naman Ramachandran Plus Icon Naman Ramachandran Latest Circle, Onassis ONX Launch XR Program, Name Emmy Winner Katerina Cizek Head of Studies (EXCLUSIVE) 10 minutes ago Korea Box Office: Michael Jackson Biopic ‘Michael’ Dominates Weekend with Over 50% Market Share 30 minutes ago China Box Office: ‘Dear You’ Holds Top Spot as ‘The Sheep Detectives’ Enters Top Five 54 minutes ago See All Courtesy of UTN, Les Valseurs, DGS During Nepal’s pandemic lockdowns, Abinash Bikram Shah found himself deep in a TikTok rabbit hole, watching videos posted by Kinnars – members of Nepal’s ancient third-gender community – dancing, joking, performing with…
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