KATHMANDU: The production team and cast of "Elephants in the Fog" were honoured on Wednesday with a cash award of Rs 250,000 and a certificate of recognition, in a felicitation programme jointly organised by the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) and the Film Development Board Nepal to celebrate the film's international success and its contribution to Nepal's global image.

The award was presented by Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Khadga Raj Paudel "Ganesh" and Minister for Communications and Information Technology Dr. Bikram Timilsina, in recognition of the role Nepali cinema has played in introducing the country to audiences worldwide.

A moment of national pride

Minister Paudel praised the film for successfully presenting Nepal on the international stage, noting the rapid strides Nepali cinema has made in recent years. "Many dream of participating in such international platforms, and this film has successfully represented Nepal before a global audience. Its success has inspired the entire Nepali film industry," he said.

Minister Timilsina described the recognition as more than an award, calling it a valuable national achievement, and reaffirmed the government's commitment to introducing legal and policy reforms to support the growth of the film sector.

Receiving the honour on behalf of the team, director Avinash Bikram Shah framed the achievement as a collective milestone for Nepal's film fraternity rather than a personal one. "I feel that my work itself has brought me to this point. Today, I remember all my colleagues across the country. Cinema is not merely a medium of entertainment; it is also a powerful platform for presenting our culture, identity, and stories to the world," he said.

Cinema as a tourism tool

NTB Officiating CEO Hikmat Singh Ayer said the film's international success carried direct benefits for Nepal's tourism promotion. He noted that Nepal's natural beauty, cultural heritage, and diversity make it an ideal destination for film production, and encouraged both travel trade stakeholders and filmmakers to view cinema as an effective channel for promoting the country. "This is not only a proud moment for Nepal's film industry but also for the promotion of Nepal's tourism," he said.

Film Development Board Chairman Dinesh DC expressed optimism about the future of Nepal's film industry and thanked the government for prioritising the sector. He said work is underway on a new film-related law to replace legislation that has remained largely unchanged for 56 years, adding that the government has shown a positive attitude toward the development of cinema.