GANGTOK,: Filmmaker Tribeny Rai is already garnering national and
international media attention for Sikkim as she enters the final production
phase of her debut full-length Nepali film, shot entirely in her home State.
In a recent
development, the National Film Development Corporation of India (NFDC) on
Monday announced that it has chosen "six exceptional fiction films"
for the Work-in-Progress Lab at Film Bazaar 2024. The market runs concurrently
with the International Film Festival of India, which unspools November 20-28
across Goa.
Among these six
selected films is Tribeny Rai’s Nepali-language film titled ‘Shape of Momo’.
The hard-hitting film revolves around Bishnu and her multi-generational family
of women navigating patriarchal norms, grappling with the decision to either
adapt to or challenge these norms in pursuit of their goals. It is a poignant
reflection on the complexities of identity and freedom within a conventional
community.
Selection of
Tribeny’s film by the NFDC’s Film Bazaar has been reported widely by both
national media houses like ‘Hindustan Times’ and US-based popular online news
house ‘Variety’.
The
Work-in-Progress Lab has established itself as a stepping stone for independent
South Asian cinema and allows real-time collaboration between filmmakers and
mentors during the post-production phase.
The program,
which focuses on theatrical features, pairs directors and editors with industry
veterans for one-on-one feedback sessions. Mentors include festival directors,
critics, producers, and established editors who work with the filmmakers to
achieve their final cuts.
“I applied to
this lab because of the transformative impact it has had on other filmmakers'
debut projects. After working extensively on our rough cut, I know that expert
feedback will be crucial to shaping our film’s final version. The lab’s access
to industry connections—producers, distributors, and festival programmers—would
be invaluable for our film’s journey, bringing visibility and attracting
potential interest,” said Tribeny Rai.
Since its 2008
launch, the Work-in-Progress Lab has proven instrumental in launching films
that have made their mark on the international festival circuit. Notable alumni
include “Putul Nacher Itikatha” (2023), Busan winner “Shivamma” (2021), “Eeb
Allay Ooo!” (2018), “Lipstick Under My Burkha” (2015), and “Ship of Theseus”
(2011).
“I am also
excited about the lab's support, including post-production resources, technical
assistance, and potential funding. With this guidance, I believe we can
overcome some of the challenges and bring our project to its fullest
potential,” added Tribeny.
Tribeny Rai
hails from Nandok near Gangtok. With multiple awards for her short films, she
has represented Sikkim and India at international film festivals, the most
recent being the 29th Busan International Film Festival in October this year.
