{"id":13724,"date":"2025-12-10T17:48:18","date_gmt":"2025-12-10T12:18:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/theeducationoverview.in\/?p=13724"},"modified":"2025-12-10T17:48:18","modified_gmt":"2025-12-10T12:18:18","slug":"at-iffi-2025-tribeny-rais-shape-of-momos-brings-everyday-sikkimese-lives-to-centre-stage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theeducationoverview.in\/?p=13724","title":{"rendered":"At IFFI 2025, Tribeny Rai\u2019s Shape of Momos Brings Everyday Sikkimese Lives to Centre Stage"},"content":{"rendered":"
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At IFFI 2025, Tribeny Rai\u2019s Shape of Momos Brings Everyday Sikkimese Lives to Centre Stage<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n


\nSikkimese Filmmaker Tribeny Rai Highlights Challenges of a \u2018Nascent Film Industry\u2019 in Her Home State<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n
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#IFFIWood, 28 November 2025<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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Shape of Momos<\/em>, an evocative debut feature by Sikkimese filmmaker\u00a0Tribeny Rai, was screened under the\u00a0Indian Panorama\u00a0section at the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) on Thursday 27th<\/sup>\u00a0November, 2025. Following the screening, Director\u00a0Tribeny Rai, Producer and Co-writer\u00a0Kislay, and lead actor\u00a0Gaumaya Gurung\u00a0engaged with the media at a press conference held at the IFFI grounds.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

An alumna of the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI), Kolkata, Tribeny Rai is known for her sensitive exploration of women’s experiences within the cultural and geographical layers of the Eastern Himalayas.\u00a0Shape of Momos<\/em>, her debut feature, which is a story rooted in Sikkim\u2019s Cultural Landscape, continues this thematic journey.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Speaking about the making of her debut film, Tribeny described the process as both\u00a0challenging and deeply rewarding<\/em>. With the Sikkimese film industry still in its nascent stage, filmmaking in the region comes with infrastructural limitations \u2014 even professional camera setups need to be sourced from cities like Kolkata, Kathmandu or Guwahati. Despite these hurdles,\u00a0Shape of Momos<\/em>\u00a0has already travelled to several international festivals, including Busan, an experience she described as \u201cfulfilling\u201d.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Tribeny Rai shared that the film\u2019s title draws from the cultural ubiquity of\u00a0momos<\/em>\u00a0in Sikkim \u2014 a food shared across occasions, from weddings to funerals. \u201cIt represents the everyday lives and emotions of the people I come from,\u201d she noted.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Independent Voices, Shared Vision<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Producer and co-writer\u00a0Kislay, also a film school graduate, praised the authenticity embedded in Tribeny\u2019s first draft, which is grounded in her personal experiences. He emphasized that films from regions like Sikkim remain underrepresented, or are presented through narrow stereotypes in mainstream Indian cinema. \u201cStories like these need to come to light,\u201d he said, adding that their selection at IFFI feels \u201cdeeply rewarding\u201d \u2014 a dream nurtured since their student filmmaking days.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

A Female Perspective in Nepali-language Cinema<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Lead actor Gaumaya Gurung expressed her excitement at being part of a film told from a\u00a0female perspective<\/em>\u00a0\u2014 something she finds rare in the Nepali film industry, despite her five years of experience. She commended the film\u2019s blend of subjective and objective approaches in portraying the protagonist\u2019s inner world.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Distribution Challenges and Community Building<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The team acknowledged the challenges of distributing and marketing independent films from the region.\u00a0Shape of Momos<\/em>\u00a0is slated for release in Sikkim, North Bengal, pockets of Meghalaya and Assam, and Dehradun \u2014 areas with a strong Nepali-speaking audience. Additionally, Tribeny revealed that the film will also receive a theatrical release in Italy.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

She also emphasized the emerging need for a supportive network of like-minded independent filmmakers in Sikkim, to overcome obstacles in distribution and visibility.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

A Milestone for Sikkim\u2019s Budding Film Culture<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Tribeny Rai, who identifies as the\u00a0first woman filmmaker from Sikkim, reflected on the slow emergence of film culture in the state. With limited access, resources, and infrastructure, filmmaking remains a challenging pursuit. Yet, she notes a growing enthusiasm among young Sikkimese film students, many of whom have resonated with the portrayal of everyday life in\u00a0Shape of Momos<\/em>.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

In mainstream Hindi cinema and even in certain web series, the Northeast is often exoticized or depicted through the lens of drug-related narratives, Tribeny Rai observed and added, \u201cI wanted to tell a story where everyday people from Sikkim take center stage \u2014 where we are the heroes of our own stories.\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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Watch the full Press Conference:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n