Summit Report, Gangtok 10 Feb:
Sikkimese filmmaker Tribeny Rai features among the mix of established film directors and emerging filmmakers from across Asia who are attending the prestigious Hong Kong Film Festival (HKIFF) 2025 at Hong Kong.
Along with co-producer Kisley, the Sikkimese filmmaker will be presenting her under-production debut Nepali film project at the HKIFF Industry Project Market running alongside the film festival.
Tribeny’s upcoming film is among the 15 work-in-progress projects selected for the HKIFF Industry Project Market being held from March 17 to 19. The selected group is a mix of established auteurs and emerging talent from across Asia.
The work-in-progress initiative is designed for film projects in the later stages of production. Its purpose is to help producers and directors secure post-production funds, and connect with distribution agents and film festival programmers.
India’s official entry to the 91st Oscars, Village Rockstar by Reema Das, and Saurav Rai’s Guras has also been part of this lab in the past.
“We are on the verge of completing the film and are really excited to present it at the market. We need post-production funds to complete our project, and hopefully, HAF (Asia Film Financing Forum) will provide us with the opportunity to network with investors and programmers,” said Tribeny. She hails from Nandok near Ranipool in East Sikkim.
Her debut full-length Nepali film is tentatively titled ‘Shape of Momo’ which, still in under-production stage, has been garnering national and international attention, shining a spotlight on Sikkim.
Her film was the joint-winner during the Work-in-Progress Lab at Film Bazaar 2024 held in Goa last November.
The ‘Shape of Momo’ is her first full length Nepal feature film and it describes the journey of a woman who is determined not to let patriarchy and its influence push her down. The film has been shot extensively in and around Nandok, and now it is heading towards post-production.
