Kathmandu — The team behind Nepal's historic Cannes Film Festival entry Elephants in the Fog received a warm government welcome on Monday morning as Communications Minister Vikram Timilsina led a formal reception ceremony at Tribhuvan International Airport to honor their achievement on the world's most prestigious cinematic stage.
Speaking at the event, Minister Timilsina reflected on a broader truth that the film's Cannes success had brought into sharp focus: that Nepal's challenges are not born of a lack of resources or potential, but of failing to properly recognize and harness what already exists within the country.
"Nepal is not behind because it has nothing," he said. "Nepal is behind because we have not been able to make use of what we have, to create value from it, to use it properly. Our cultural diversity, our unique identities, our nature and our traditions — these are what define our country to the world."
The Minister described the international recognition received by Elephants in the Fog as a source of pride not just for the film's team, but for every Nepali.
"Cannes Film Festival has an 80-year history and stands among the most prestigious film events in the world. The fact that a Nepali film, Elephants in the Fog, has won an award there is a matter of joy for all of Nepal. I want to congratulate everyone in Nepal for this achievement, and I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the team for bringing home an award from Cannes 2026," he said.
The film, written and directed by Avinash Bikram Shah, made history as the first Nepali feature film to be officially selected for Cannes' "Un Certain Regard" section, and has now taken that milestone further by returning with an award. The film tells the story of a minority community family living under the threat of wild elephants in a remote village, and was produced through an international co-production involving companies from Nepal, France, Germany, Brazil, and Norway.
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