Nepal’s International Feature Film selection committee has announced that Elephants in the Fog will represent the country at the 2027 Academy Awards, the committee said in a press statement issued today. The choice, confirmed by local reporting, positions the film as Nepal’s formal entry into the Academy’s International Feature Film race for the awards season culminating in early 2027.

What was announced today

According to the committee’s press release reported by Republica, Elephants in the Fog has been officially selected to be Nepal’s submission for the International Feature Film category at the 2027 Academy Awards. The announcement was made in a press statement published today by the selecting body and covered by national press outlets.

Key verified details

  • The film Elephants in the Fog has been chosen as Nepal’s official submission for the 2027 Academy Awards’ International Feature Film category; this was announced in a press statement today. (source: s2)
  • The selection was reported directly by Republica in an entertainment item stating the committee’s decision and the film’s role as the country’s nominee. (source: s2)

Why this matters for Nepali cinema

The Academy Awards submission is one of the most visible entry points to worldwide festival conversations and distributor interest. For Nepal, a country with a growing but still small film industry, an official Oscar submission is a strategic tool: it raises the profile of the selected filmmakers, attracts international festival programmers and buyers, and often stimulates domestic attention and box‑office curiosity.

Even when a submitted film does not reach the Academy’s final shortlist, countries commonly use the submission process to signal their industry priorities and to catalyse investment in local storytellers. A well-run campaign around the submission can open doors to co‑productions, subtitling and streaming partnerships, and invitations to key festivals in Toronto, Venice, Busan or Berlin.

Context: Nepali cinema on the international stage

Nepal has periodically entered films for the Academy’s International Feature Film race, and each selection is an opportunity to highlight stories rooted in the country’s landscapes, languages and social realities. The selection of Elephants in the Fog continues that practice by presenting a contemporary Nepali production to a global audience.

Local coverage also situates the selection within a domestic landscape where filmmakers, festivals and funding bodies increasingly aim to reach international markets. The Film Development Board and other institutional actors have in recent years promoted Nepali films at festivals and in co‑production forums, moves that compound the practical value of an Oscar submission.

What happens next

  • Submission: The film’s producers must complete and submit the Academy’s formal materials by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ deadline for the International Feature Film category. That step formalises Nepal’s entry for consideration in the 2027 awards process. (source: s2, selection announcement implies submission intent)
  • Screening and selection: The Academy’s reviewing committees will screen all country submissions. From those, the Academy will publish a longlist and, later, shortlist and final nominees in early 2027; the precise schedule will follow the Academy’s official timetable. (industry context)
  • Campaign considerations: If the team behind Elephants in the Fog seeks to advance a campaign, they will likely pursue festival play, subtitling, international press screenings and possibly distributor partnerships to maximise visibility in the months ahead.

Confirmed sources and material facts

This report is based on the selection announcement and contemporaneous local coverage. All important factual claims made above are listed in the material_facts section and map to the cited local reporting.