
Abinash Bikram Shah
Directing
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.
Known For

In a Himalayan polyandrous village in Nepal, newly married and pregnant Pema tries to make the best of her new life. But soon, her first husband Tashi vanishes on the trade route to Lhasa. Accompanied by her monk de facto husband, Karma, she embarks on a journey into the unforgiving wilderness to find him, evolving into a quest of self discovery and liberation.
Shambhala

Five different relationship stories become connected during an ill-fated bus journey from eastern Nepal to the capital, Kathmandu.
Highway

In a small Nepalese village nestled in the heart of a forest populated by wild elephants, Pirati is the matriarch of a Kinnar community. She dreams of escaping to a “normal” life with the man she is in love with. But when one of her daughters disappears, she must investigate and choose between love and responsibility to her community.
Elephants in the Fog

In Thamel, three friends come together with big dreams of winning a band competition as the rock band Karkash. Searching for a new vocalist, they meet Ivan, who joins the band and turns out to be a drug addict.
Karkash

We are in the year 2001, a temporary ceasefire brings a much-needed break to a small war-torn village in Northern Nepal, bringing much joy among the residents. Prakash and Kiran, two young close friends, are also starting to feel the change in the air. Though they are divided by caste and social creed, they remain inseparable, and start raising a hen given to Prakash by his sister, with hopes to save money by selling her eggs. However, the hen goes missing. To find it, they embark on a journey, innocently unaware of the tyranny brought by the fragile ceasefire.
The Black Hen

A mother sings lullabies to her 12-years-old daughter in order to calm her down. But, when the lullabies end, and the daughter comes to her senses, the reality turns out to be much grimmer, and life-altering.
Lori: Melancholy of my Mother's Lullabies

A dead body of a migrant worker arrives in a village of stone workers in southern part of Nepal. TATTINI, his recently wed wife and now widow, plans to escape and use the money from his insurance to start a new life but her father-in-law is determined to stop her from leaving with the insurance money of his dead son.
Tattini: The Moon Is Bright Tonight

Vashna lives to make others happy; their happiness is hers. Aakash is an aimless wanderer, with no ambition other than to live happily in the moment. When the two disparate souls meet, both are forced to rethink the meaning of happiness.
I am Happy

In rural Nepal, thirteen-year-old Saraswoti changes her name to Rihanna. The school principal scolds and disciplines her for blindly imitating Western culture. She wants to prove herself with quiet support from her watchful mother.