Gangtok, May 21: ‘The Shape of Momo’, a Nepali-language feature film directed by Sikkimese filmmaker Tribeny Rai, has been selected as one of five Asian works-in-progress showcased at the prestigious “HAF Goes to Cannes” programme at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival.
On May 17, the five selected films were presented at the Cannes Film Market (Marché du Film), where each team screened a 10-minute excerpt of their respective works to an audience of global industry professionals, including festival programmers, sales agents, curators, and distributors. Representing ‘The Shape of Momo’ at Cannes were director Tribeny Rai, producer Kislay, and lead actor Gaumaya Gurung. The team also unveiled the film’s official poster at the Bharat Pavilion during the festival.
The “Goes to Cannes” initiative, organized as part of the Marché du Film in collaboration with the Hong Kong – Asia Film Financing Forum (HAF), is designed to spotlight emerging cinematic voices and facilitate international exposure and potential distribution for new filmmakers.
“It’s the world’s biggest film market—an extraordinary space where top buyers and sellers come together,” said director Tribeny Rai, reflecting on the experience. “Presenting our film there was exhilarating. At times, we had to offer added context, since Shape of Momo doesn’t fit the mold of mainstream Indian cinema. Its distinct look and feel, shaped by our geography and culture, is precisely what makes it a Sikkimese film. The feedback we received has been invaluable, and we’re now focused on building a clear strategy moving forward.”
‘The Shape of Momo’ marks Rai’s debut full-length feature in Nepali. Set in and around her native village of Nandok near Ranipool in East Sikkim, the film follows the journey of a woman who refuses to let patriarchy define her destiny. The narrative is both rooted in the local landscape and reflective of universal struggles, told through a lens that is uniquely Sikkimese.
Rai also extended heartfelt gratitude to Hon’ble Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang (Golay) for his personal interest and support of the film, and to Hon’ble Lok Sabha MP Indra Hang Subba for facilitating her travel to Cannes and championing the global representation of Sikkimese artists.
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