Sikkim Filmmaker Tribeny Rai Wins Two International Awards for Her Intriguing Himalayan Story

What happens when a village cannot even agree on whose responsibility a tragedy is? This unusual question lies at the heart of A Chronicle of Minor Things, the upcoming feature film by Sikkim filmmaker Tribeny Rai, which has earned two international awards at the Asian Project Market (APM) in Busan, South Korea.The film won the APM Busan Award and the Sørfond Award, marking a significant milestone for Rai’s second feature. The project was selected from a record 604 submissions representing 48 countries.The film’s premise is both unsettling and thought-provoking. A 15-year-old girl is found hanging from a tree, but a dispute breaks out over which village has jurisdiction over her death. The tree’s roots and the branch from which she hangs lie on opposite sides of a boundary.International Recognition for a Local StoryThe jury praised the project for its original story and narrative structure, along with Rai’s ability to weave a social issue subtly into the narrative. The film’s distinctive landscape and themes were also recognised for their potential to connect with audiences around the world.Rai and producer Kislay presented the project at the Asian Project Market, an industry platform that connects filmmakers with international producers, financiers and potential co-production partners. The Sørfond Award also brings an invitation to Norway, opening up opportunities for international collaboration and co-production as the film moves towards its next stage.From East Sikkim to the WorldHailing from Nandok in East Sikkim, Rai has built her filmmaking journey around stories rooted in the Eastern Himalayas. Her work brings local experiences and social realities to the screen, offering audiences a glimpse into lives and landscapes that are often underrepresented in mainstream cinema.Her debut feature, Shape of Momo, premiered at the Busan International Film Festival in 2025. It went on to receive several international accolades, including the Grand Jury Prize at the Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles.The latest recognition signals another promising chapter in Rai’s career. By bringing a deeply local story to an international platform, she demonstrates how narratives shaped by a particular place can find meaning far beyond their origins.With two international awards adding to her growing list of achievements, Tribeny Rai is bringing the stories of the Eastern Himalayas to a wider world, proving that powerful storytelling can cross borders and connect people through shared human experiences.