‘Angh’, a Naga film, has won the prestigious Platform Prize at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) 2026. It beat 11 films in the category to clinch the award.

The film is now eligible for consideration in the Best International Feature Film category at the 99th Academy Awards (Oscars).

The 31-year-old director, Theja Rio, adapted the movie from his 2021 short film of the same name. The movie, made in the Konyak language, puts Naga culture, history and identity on the world map.

“This film is my tribute to the tribal people of my homeland who live quiet, untold lives. I wanted to tell the world that they lived here and continue to live here,” said Rio while accepting the Prize.

That was the purpose behind this cinema. This success belongs to the cooperation and love of so many people, he added.

Inside ‘Angh’: A Father-Son Story Set in 1960s Nagaland

The story follows a troubled father-son relationship set in 1960s Nagaland. Anghba is the last surviving chief of a village near the Burma (now Myanmar) border.

He lives in the village with his ailing wife and mute son when an American missionary arrives.

While Anghba tries to hold on to his traditions and beliefs, his son, Amao, is attracted to the comforts offered by the new way of life.

Rio explores themes such as conversion, assimilation, changing culture and the process of letting go by focusing on one simple story of a father and son.

He cast first-time actors Anghlong Konyak, Sobino Rengma, Genpai Konyak and Amah Konyak in the film. The cast also includes BAFTA Award winner Douglas Henshall.

Beyond Bollywood: What ‘Angh’s’ TIFF Win Means for Naga Cinema

For many, Indian film means Hindi cinema. While there has been a shift in the last decade, a large part of the Northeastern states still gets ignored.

In fact, even using an umbrella term such as ‘Northeastern films’ for eight states with different languages, cultures and identities is reductive.

So ‘Angh’, a Naga film made by a Naga filmmaker, winning TIFF is a huge milestone for the Northeastern state.

“I felt I was looking at something rare, a film born in Nagaland, made by Indigenous filmmakers, carrying the voice of a community rarely seen on the world’s biggest screens on its own terms,” Executive producer Gaurav Dhingra said.

This is the first film from the state to the international award circle. Earlier, Nana: A Tale of Us won Best Director at the 2017 Edinburgh Festival of Indian Films and Documentaries.

Angh’s eligibility for the Oscars is a defining moment for Nagaland, where there is virtually no film industry.

It also shines a spotlight on Naga cinema and inspires more people from the region to pursue filmmaking.