GANGTOK: Sikkimese film ‘Shape of Momo’ continues its successful journey on the international festival circuit, adding new selections across Europe after its earlier screening at the Glasgow Film Festival.
Directed by award-winning Sikkimese filmmaker Tribeny Rai, the Nepali language film has been steadily introducing audiences around the world to a story rooted in Sikkim and its culture.
The film recently opened C-Movie in Italy, a festival dedicated to auteur cinema, literature and contemporary thought. Later this month, it will also compete at the 35th African, Asian and Latin American Film Festival in Italy, where it has been selected for the “Windows on the World” Feature Film Competition.
Currently, director Tribeny Rai and producer Geeta Rai (in photo) are attending the ‘Spirit of Fire International Debut Film Festival’ at Khanty-Mansiysk in Russia, which is dedicated to debut films by emerging directors from various nations.
The Spirit of Fire International Debut Film Festival is a prestigious annual event held in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia, since 2002, focusing on first and second feature-length films from emerging directors worldwide.
‘Shape of Momo’ film will next travel to the Cinema Asia Film Festival in Amsterdam, where it will have its Dutch premiere in April.
Expressing her happiness, Tribeny Rai said: “I am grateful that people from different parts of the world have resonated with a story from Sikkim, allowing the film to continue travelling across the globe. It means so much to me to attend these festivals with my mother, who is also the producer of the film. It feels as if the whole world is celebrating a story that I started writing at our kitchen table.”
Tribeny Rai is also making final round of preparations for the all-India release of ‘Shape of Momo’ with a grand Gangtok premiere. The production team is currently in advanced talks with prominent distributors.
Meanwhile, Sikkim is also set to host the first edition of the Sikkim International Film Festival at Gangtok for which Tribeny Rai has extend her best wishes to the organisers. She urged people, especially cinema lovers, to participate in this much anticipated event happening in Sikkim this month. She added that the Information & Public Relations Department, Government of Sikkim, has been working tirelessly to bring the best of Indian and world cinema to the people of Sikkim, and that audiences should not miss this opportunity.
- SA Report
