Theja Rio's Nagaland Film Angh Wins Platform Prize at Toronto

Director Theja Rio's film Angh, produced in the Konyak tribal language and introducing Nagaland to the cinema world, achieved major international success by being deemed worthy of the Platform Prize at the Toronto International Film Festival.

International Success and Award

Hailing from India's northeastern state of Nagaland, the film Angh won a major award after being appreciated by the jury at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Bearing the distinction of being director Theja Rio's first feature film, the production won the Platform Prize, which recognizes distinct directorial voices.

An Important Step Toward the Oscars

Thanks to this prestigious award, Angh has secured an extraordinary pathway to be considered in the International Feature Film category at the 2027 Academy Awards.

Under new rules, award-winning productions from specific international festivals can be considered without depending on their countries' official submissions.

Plot and Background of the Film

Set in the early 1960s, the production brings to the silver screen the story of Anghba, an aging Konyak village leader resisting a changing world, and his young son.

The conflicts created by an American missionary arriving in the region and the dynamics between father and son hold a central place in the film.

Cast and Cinematography Techniques

The film stars Anglong Konyak and Sobino Rengma in the lead roles, with Scottish actor Douglas Henshall also featuring in the cast and Nancy Nisa Beso serving as producer.

Director Rio and cinematographer Adam Pietkiewicz shot the film on 16mm film format to reflect the texture of the 1950s and 60s.