As part of GemArts Masala Festival 2026, join us for a screening of Tribeny Rai's debut feature film, Shape of Momo. Exploring the tension between societal pressures and the desire to forge your own path, this semi-autobiographical release has a powerful story to tell. 


About the film

Director: Tribeny Rai  |  Nepali with English subtitles  |  India/South Korea 2025
114 minutes 

After quitting her job in Delhi, Bishnu returns to her ancestral Himalayan village in Sikkim, only to find family pressures and rigid expectations closing in. While Bishnu's grandmother longs for an absent son, her mother pushes her towards marriage, as her pregnant sister arrives seeking refuge from her in-laws. As old tensions resurface, a relationship with a local architect seems to offer an answer. But Bishnu must decide whether to forge her own path or conform to societal expectations. 

Influenced by Apichatpong Weerasethakul, Jia Zhangke and Nuri Bilge Ceylan, Tribeny Rai described the motivation behind her semi-autobiographical feature debut: "We leave the places that shaped us in search of opportunity, freedom and a better life, only to find ourselves belonging nowhere." 

Presented by GemArts, Day for Night and Tyneside Cinema. 


About Masala Festival

GemArts' award-winning Masala Festival returns from 13th – 19th July for its 10th anniversary, bringing a vibrant mix and blend of the finest South Asian arts and culture to the North East. Enjoy an incredible programme of performances, exhibitions, events, workshops, talks, pop-ups, and of course, delicious Indian food in venues, places and spaces across the region. Don't miss this special milestone year! 

For the full Masala Festival 2026 programme, visit www.gemarts.org/whatson

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