Shillong: In a landmark moment for Northeast Indian cinema, acclaimed filmmaker Pradip Kurbah’s Khasi-language film Those From The Clouds has achieved a historic triple triumph at the prestigious Moscow International Film Festival, winning Best Film, Best Director, and the coveted NETPAC Award for Best Asian Film.
The emotional magnitude of the win was evident in Kurbah’s heartfelt reaction, shared in a post that radiated gratitude and disbelief. “I’m overwhelmed, humbled, and filled with gratitude,” he wrote. “To say this is a dream come true would still fall short of what I feel right now.”
This international acclaim marks a milestone not just for Kurbah, but for regional-language filmmaking from Northeast India—an area often underrepresented on the global cinematic stage. Kurbah dedicated the awards to the team that helped bring the film to life and to the people of Meghalaya. “This award isn’t mine alone. It belongs to the incredible team behind the film—every actor, technician, and crew member who poured their soul into this journey,” he noted.
Critics and cinephiles alike have praised the film’s powerful storytelling and cultural authenticity, calling its sweep of the main competition categories a rare and remarkable feat. The Moscow International Film Festival, one of the world’s oldest and most respected film showcases, has long served as a platform for cinematic excellence, yet this is one of the few instances a film from Northeast India has been spotlighted so prominently.
Kurbah’s victory sends a clear message about the universality of regional stories and the growing global appetite for voices from the margins. “This is for Meghalaya—for its people, its stories, and its spirit,” he wrote. “Your support of local cinema is what inspires us to dream, to take risks, and to keep telling stories that matter.”