GANGTOK: It was a double delight for Sikkimese filmmaker Tribeny Rai, who bagged two prestigious awards at the 2025 Busan International Film Festival for her widely acclaimed debut Nepali film, ‘Shape of Momo’.
‘Shape of Momo’, which has received warm reviews from both the media and film critics, won the Taipei Film Commission Award and the Songwon Vision Award in the Vision Section of the Busan International Film Festival 2025. The Sikkim-made film had its world premiere at the prestigious festival on September 21.
The awards were received on behalf of the team by producer Kislay on Thursday.
Tribeny Rai expressed her heartfelt gratitude, saying, “We’re over the moon to share that our film Shape of Momo has won two awards at the Busan International Film Festival-the Taipei Film Commission Award and the Songwon Vision Award. Endless thanks to our incredible cast and crew for bringing this story to life. Awards add credibility, but with or without them we would still be the same bunch of filmmakers – searching and persevering.”
She also thanked the Busan International Film Festival for providing a platform to showcase diverse voices and for recognising stories rooted in local cultures and universal emotions.
After the Busan International Film Festival, the ‘Shape of Momo’ had its European premiere at the prestigious San Sebastián Film Festival on September 25, where the film fetched an overwhelming response from the audience.
Shot in Tribeny’s native villages of Nandok and Assam Lingzey, the Nepali-language film ‘Shape of Momo’ explores the experiences of women navigating and negotiating social norms across generations.
With a runtime of 114 minutes, the film has received high praise from international media attending its screening at the Busan International Film Festival and San Sebastián Film Festival.
Outlook India writes: “World premiering at the Busan Film Festival, Tribeny Rai’s gently observed debut feature Shape of Momo is spearheaded by one of the year’s most compelling, dynamically fraught heroines.”
Similarly, international entertainment media house Variety writes: “The Sikkimese filmmaker’s debut feature “Shape of Momo” deliberately avoids romanticizing mountain communities, presenting instead an unflinching portrait of women navigating patriarchal expectations in a Himalayan village.”
Tribeny hails from Nandok, East Sikkim and has won multiple awards for her previous short films, after graduating from Satyajit Ray Film & Television Institute, Kolkata.
- SA Report
