Award-winning filmmaker Pradip Kurbah’s new film Moon has been officially selected for the highly competitive Asian Project Market (APM) at the 2025 Busan International Film Festival.
From a record 455 submissions across 44 countries, only 30 projects earned a spot, placing Moon among Asia’s most promising and innovative cinematic works this year.
Moon is a collaboration between Hello Meghalaya, Shiven Arts and Kurbah Films. The film features a distinguished cast including Albert Mawrie, Merlvin Mukhim, Anvil Laloo, Jeetesh Sharma and Baia Marbaniang, with auditions for additional roles to be held soon. Filming is scheduled to begin this winter.
The screenplay and story have been co-written by Kurbah and Paulami Dutta. Moon explores the quiet pain and guilt individuals often bear alone. Using the moon as a metaphor – illuminated only by reflecting the Sun’s light – the film delves into how hope and resilience grow through connection and empathy. Rain, a recurring symbol throughout the film, represents struggle, cleansing and renewal, mirroring the characters’ emotional journeys toward healing.
Producer Shankar Lall Goenka returns to collaborate with Kurbah on this new project.
Held annually alongside the Busan International Film Festival, APM is Asia’s largest co-production and financing platform. It provides a vital forum for emerging filmmakers to engage with international producers, investors and distributors.
This is not Kurbah’s first acknowledgment at APM; his film Ha Lyngkha Bneng was selected for APM in 2020.
Reflecting on his new project, Kurbah said, “At its heart, Moon is about confronting the inner darkness we all carry and discovering hope and strength through connection, forgiveness, and resilience.”
