‘Elephants in the Fog’ set for Sept 4 release ahead of Oscars push
The announcement was made on Wednesday during a program held in Kathmandu by the film’s production team.
KATHMANDU: Elephants in the Fog, the award-winning Nepali film that made history at the Cannes Film Festival, is set for its theatrical release on Bhadra 19 (Sept 4), coinciding with the public holiday of Krishna Janmashtami.
The announcement was made on Wednesday during a program held in Kathmandu by the film’s production team.
The film had earlier gained international acclaim after winning the Jury Prize in the “Un Certain Regard” section at the Cannes Film Festival, becoming the first Nepali film to achieve this milestone.
The achievement is being widely regarded as a landmark moment for Nepali cinema on the global stage.
The producers have strategically scheduled the domestic release ahead of Nepal’s Oscar selection process.
According to regulations, a film must run in theaters for at least seven days to qualify for submission to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for the 2027 Oscars, which are scheduled for March 14.
The Nepal Oscar selection committee typically calls for submissions every September.
Following its Cannes success, the film has already received strong international praise.
Renowned Indian filmmaker and actor Anurag Kashyap described it as one of the most powerful endings he has ever seen at Cannes, calling it a significant leap forward for Nepali cinema.
Directed and written by Avinash Bikram Shah, the film tells a deeply emotional story set in a settlement troubled by recurring elephant attacks, focusing on the struggles of a marginalized community living under constant fear and uncertainty.
The cast includes Gauri Malla, Mao Tse Gurung, Puspa Thing Lama, Dipika Yadav, Jasmine Bishwakarma, Elij Ghimire, Mahima Nawarbag, and Akanksha Karki, among others.
