Abinash Bikram Shah

Biography

Abinash Bikram Shah is a prominent Nepalese director, writer, and producer who made history as the first Nepali filmmaker to be officially selected for and win an award at the Cannes Film Festival, securing a Special Jury Mention in 2022 for his short film Lori (Melancholy of my Mother's Lullabies). He further solidified his international acclaim with his debut feature film Elephants in the Fog, which premiered in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, marking another historic first for Nepali feature cinema. Throughout his career, Shah has demonstrated a powerful voice in storytelling, crafting compelling short films like Tattini: The Moon is Bright Tonight in 2018, while also earning widespread recognition as a talented screenwriter for acclaimed feature films including Highway in 2012, Kalo Pothi: The Black Hen in 2015, and Shambhala in 2024.