Sikkim’s Tribeny Rai takes Nepali cinema global with ‘Shape of Momo’ at San Sebastián Film Festival

Young Sikkimese filmmaker Tribeny Rai’s debut Nepali-language feature film ‘Shape of Momo’ (Chhora Jastai) has been officially selected for the San Sebastián International Film Festival 2025 in Spain.

The internationally acclaimed film festival, scheduled to take place from September 20 to 28, will feature Rai’s film under its highly respected ‘New Directors’ section, a category known for launching fresh global cinematic voices. San Sebastián is one of Europe’s oldest and most prestigious film festivals, having earlier hosted the debut of several celebrated filmmakers including Bong Joon-ho of Parasite fame.

Speaking after receiving the official invitation, Tribeny Rai said, “The film is finally complete, and I am deeply honoured to screen it at San Sebastián. Shape of Momo was born out of a personal longing to tell stories about my home and the women in it. To have it resonate on an international platform is incredibly humbling.”

Rai, who hails from Nandok in East Sikkim, has already earned acclaim for her earlier short films and is a graduate of the Satyajit Ray Film & Television Institute, Kolkata. Shape of Momo is her first feature-length film and a deeply personal project. The story is set in her native villages of Nandok and Assam Lingzey, and follows a young woman named Bishnu (played by Gaumaya Gurung) as she navigates life in a household full of women, while dealing with family expectations and societal norms.

The film not only reflects life in rural Sikkim but also gives voice to the often overlooked experiences of Himalayan women. Through its quiet, grounded storytelling and rich visuals, the film presents an authentic and culturally rooted narrative that is set to find resonance with global audiences.

‘Shape of Momo’ is part of a curated selection of 14 debut or sophomore films by directors from 11 different countries, with Rai being the only Indian director featured this year. Notably, films in this category often go on to win major international recognition. In fact, selections from last year’s edition collectively earned over 50 awards and nominations worldwide.

The film is a co-production between India and South Korea, produced by Dalley Khorsani Production, in association with Kathkala Films and Aizoa Pictures. Lending further international weight to the project, Mike Goodridge, an executive producer known for Oscar-nominated and Cannes-winning films like Triangle of Sadness, has joined the project as Executive Producer.

During its post-production phase, Shape of Momo had already begun creating buzz in international film circles. It was part of the Cannes Film Market 2025 and also featured at the Hong Kong International Film Market earlier this year. Tribeny’s growing reputation and body of work are helping to cement Sikkim’s place on the global cinema map, opening doors for other filmmakers from India’s Northeast and the Nepali-speaking community.

While the film is now set for its world premiere, Rai acknowledged that there are logistical challenges ahead for attending the festival in Spain. “We’ve received the invitation, but the logistics still need to be arranged,” she said. She also thanked the State Government of Sikkim and Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang (Golay) for their earlier support during the film’s development phase and expressed hope that the government would extend support again for its global launch.