Sikkimese filmmaker Tribeny Rai’s debut full-length Nepali film, Shape of Momo, has secured a coveted spot at the Cannes Film Festival 2025 after winning the prestigious ‘HAF Goes to Cannes’ award at the Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF) work-in-progress lab. The HKIFF Industry Project Market, held from March 17 to 19 in Hong Kong, featured 15 selected projects from across Asia, including Rai’s under-production film.
Shape of Momo was presented at the HKIFF Industry Project Market by Tribeny Rai and co-producer Kisley. The project was selected among a competitive mix of established and emerging filmmakers from Asia. Winning the ‘HAF Goes to Cannes’ award guarantees market screening opportunities at the Cannes Film Festival, allowing the team to seek potential sales agents, distributors, and festival opportunities.
In a media statement from Hong Kong, Rai expressed gratitude and excitement for the recognition. “The film Shape of Momo was in a work-in-progress lab at HKIFF, which is Asia’s leading film market. Winning the HAF Goes to Cannesaward is an incredible honor and an opportunity to showcase Sikkimese talent on a global stage,” she stated.
Shape of Momo follows the journey of a woman navigating societal pressures and patriarchal norms. The film, shot extensively in and around Rai’s hometown of Nandok near Ranipool in East Sikkim, explores themes of resilience and empowerment. The project has been generating buzz on the national and international festival circuit, having previously won the top prize at the NFDC Filmbazaar in Goa last November.
Currently in post-production in Mumbai, Shape of Momo marks Tribeny Rai’s first full-length feature film. The recognition at HKIFF and the upcoming Cannes showcase highlight Rai’s rising prominence as a filmmaker and put Sikkimese cinema on the global map.
