The critically acclaimed Nepalese thriller drama Elephants in the Fog (Tinīharū) will premiere across QFX Cinemas on September 4, 2026 (Bhadra 19, 2083), following its historic success at the 79th Cannes Film Festival. Written and directed by Abinash Bikram Shah in his feature directorial debut, the film made cinema history as the first Nepalese feature film selected for the Un Certain Regard section at Cannes, where it earned the prestigious Jury Prize.
Set in a small Nepalese village bordered by a forest of wild elephants, the story follows Pirati, the matriarch of a local Kinnar community who dreams of escaping to a normal life with the man she loves. The narrative turns when one of her community daughters vanishes and local residents refuse to assist, forcing Pirati to choose between her personal freedom and her duty to protect her marginalized community. Real-world LGBTQIA+ activist Pushpa Thing Lama leads the cast alongside Deepika Yadav, Jasmine Bishwokarma, Aliz Ghimire, and Dura Sanjay Kumar Gupta.
The film celebrated its world premiere at Cannes on May 20, 2026, receiving an enthusiastic standing ovation lasting over seven minutes from the international audience. In addition to winning the Un Certain Regard Jury Prize, the drama received nominations for both the Camera d'Or and the Queer Palm awards. Beyond its crime saga framework, the film explores transgender rights, social discrimination, and survival in South Asia.
The upcoming theatrical release marks a significant milestone for Nepalese cinema as local audiences prepare to experience a story that has already captured global acclaim.
