Pradip Kurbah’s ‘The Elysian Field’ Wins Big at Moscow Festival

Pradip Kurbah’s film “The Elysian Field” has won the Golden St. George at the 47th Moscow International Film Festival.

New Delhi, April 25, 2025

Indian director Pradip Kurbah’s Khasi-language film “Ha Lyngkha Bneng” has won Best Film and Best Director awards at the 47th Moscow International Film Festival (MIFF). The title translates to “The Elysian Field” in English. The film also won the prestigious NETPAC Award for Best Asian Film.

The jury awarded the main prize of the festival – Golden St. George, to Ha Lyngkha Bneng. It’s a statue of Saint George slaying the dragon, as represented on the Coat of Arms of Moscow. 

In addition, Pradip Kurba received the Silver Saint George for Best Director at the festival.

Kurba dedicates the awards to Meghalaya and it’s people

Kurba shared an emotional post on social media.

“To say this is a dream come true would still fall short of what I feel right now,” he said.

“My deepest thanks to the jury for believing in our film, and to the festival programmers for giving it space to breathe and be seen on an international stage. Your recognition has brought our story from the hills of Meghalaya to the world,” he added.

“And most importantly, this is for Meghalaya—for its people, its stories, and its spirit. Your support of local cinema is what inspires us to dream, to take risks, and to keep telling stories that matter.” He encouraged filmmakers to also give a platform to regional stories.

“The entire team that worked with us was incredibly efficient. It was a great honor for me to attend this festival, and we made a unanimous decision on who to award the main prize to. The film “The Elysian Field” will receive it,” said the chairman of the jury of the main MIFF competition, Spanish producer and director Luis Mignarro.

Moscow International Film Festival (MIFF) is one of the oldest world film forums (the second after the Venice Film Festival). They held the first edition in 1935.

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