31st Kolkata Intl Film Festival
By Our Reporter
Noted filmmaker Pradip Kurbah has won the Best Director Award for his Khasi film Ha Lyngkha Bneng (The Elysian Field) at the 31st Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF) on Thursday.
The honour comes as the movie continues to garner acclaim, and being selected for the International Competition at the upcoming International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) — one of India’s premier film festivals with global reach.
The film has been widely praised for its emotional depth, atmospheric visuals, and sensitive portrayal of identity, memory, and the changing landscape of Meghalaya. Kurbah’s direction has been lauded for its cultural authenticity, subtlety, and strong human connection.
Reacting to the accolade, Kurbah described the recognition as being ‘more than just an award.’
“Some victories are reminders of the long road — the sleepless nights, the doubts, the small acts of faith, and the people who stood by me when nothing seemed certain,” he said.
He shared that Ha Lyngkha Bneng was born ‘from a place of honesty, struggle, and love,’ and that seeing it acknowledged on such platforms means more than words can express.
Expressing gratitude to the Government of Meghalaya for its continued encouragement of the art, Kurbah acknowledged the support of the chief minister, whose belief in creative work has strengthened the state’s filmmaking community.
He added that with this growing support system, more filmmakers from Meghalaya are likely to shine on national and international stages in the coming years.
