Historic Success for Nepali Film at Cannes Film Festival: Mayor Dangol’s Statement
Acting Chief of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Sunita Dangol, described the Nepali film’s first-ever ‘Jury Prize’ victory at the Cannes Film Festival as a historic achievement. Directed by Avinash Bikram Shah, ‘Elephant in the Fog’ received this honor in the Un Certain Regard category. Dangol also announced preparations to hold the first-ever ‘Kathmandu Film Festival’ in Kathmandu and has invited the mayor of Cannes, France, to participate. May 23, Kathmandu.
Speaking to journalists at Tribhuvan Airport upon her return from the festival in Cannes, France, Dangol said that this year’s festival yielded historic results for Nepal. She emphasized that this is the first time in the festival’s history that a Nepali film has won such an honor, calling it a significant and historic milestone. The Nepali film ‘Elephant in the Fog,’ directed by Avinash Bikram Shah, was awarded the ‘Jury Prize’ in the Un Certain Regard category, a testament to the advanced progress of Nepali cinema, creative industries, and the arts.
“After the film screening, the audience gave a standing ovation lasting about 7–8 minutes. This moment was deeply emotional and a proud occasion for all Nepalis. Securing not only the hearts of international audiences but also winning an award is a tremendous accomplishment,” she said. Dangol expressed the Kathmandu Metropolitan City’s eagerness to foster balanced development in creative sectors by leveraging international knowledge, skills, and experiences through film festivals.
“We have initiated policy discussions to institutionalize the creative sector beyond one-time programs. During my visits and meetings with representatives from various cities, sharing Kathmandu Metropolitan City’s plans to organize the first ‘Kathmandu Film Festival’ has been met with enthusiasm,” she added. Having received an invitation from David Lisnard, the Mayor of Cannes, France, Dangol extended an invitation to Mayor Lisnard to participate in Kathmandu’s film festival.