Stories
Naga Film 'Angh' Wins Top Platform Award at TIFF, Qualifies for 2027 Oscars
- •Theja Rio's debut feature film "Angh," set in Nagaland, secured the prestigious Platform Competition award at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) 2026.
- •This win automatically makes "Angh" eligible for consideration in the International Feature Film category at the 2027 Academy Awards, a new rule for the Platform Competition winner.
- •The film was the sole Indian entry in TIFF’s Platform Competition this year, a section dedicated to bold directorial voices and distinctive cinematic storytelling.
- •Set in 1960s Nagaland, "Angh" explores the intersection of tradition, faith, family, memory, and cultural transformation through the story of an aging Konyak village chief and his son.
- •Shot on 16mm with an Indigenous Naga cast and BAFTA-winning actor Douglas Henshall, the film is produced by Nancy Nisa Beso and Theja Rio.
Key Questions Answered
The Nagaland-set feature film "Angh", directed by Theja Rio, won the prestigious Platform Competition top prize at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) 2026. This win makes the movie automatically eligible for consideration in the International Feature Film category at the 2027 Oscars.
Set against the backdrop of 1960s Nagaland, "Angh" follows an ageing Konyak village chief and his son who are among the last people holding onto their ancestral faith and way of life amidst profound cultural transformation. The film was developed from Rio's 2021 short film of the same name and was shot on 16mm film.
"Angh" is written and directed by Theja Rio in his feature directorial debut, and produced by Nancy Nisa Beso and Rio. The film features an Indigenous Naga cast alongside BAFTA-winning actor Douglas Henshall, with international sales rights represented by Jungle Book Studio.
