He got his ear torn for watching TV. Then he went to Cannes
Summary
Abinash Bikram Shah won the Jury Prize at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival’s Un Certain Regard for his film Tiniharu, a story shaped by his research with Nepal’s Hijra community. The film is set for release in Nepal as Shah reflects on empathy, authorship, and the personal memories that inform his work.
Key Points
- Abinash Bikram Shah won the Jury Prize at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival’s Un Certain Regard for his film Tiniharu.
- The film follows the Hijra community and was developed through extensive research trips across Nepal with co-writer Sandeep Badal.
- Shah says he wanted the cast’s input throughout the process and worried about portraying the community authentically.
- He still watches films late into the night, just as he did as a child sneaking television after dinner.
