A new film from Nagaland, a small state in northeastern India, has won a major prize at the Toronto International Film Festival. The movie, titled Angh, was created by first-time director Theja Rio. It is filmed in Konyak, a local language rarely heard in Indian cinema or international theaters. The film won the festival's Platform Prize, an award that honors filmmakers with distinctive personal voices.
Angh is set in the early 1960s and follows an aging village chief and his young son during a period of major cultural change. During this time, Christianity was spreading across Nagaland, changing traditional practices and local ways of life. The story focuses on the deep relationship between the father, who holds on to ancient beliefs, and his son, who is curious about the modernizing world. Most of the cast members, including lead actor Anghlong Konyak, were non-professional actors performing on camera for the first time.
The festival victory brings rare international attention to the traditions and history of Nagaland. Additionally, under updated rules for the Academy Awards, winning the prize allows Angh to qualify for consideration in the International Feature Film category at the 2027 Oscars. Director Theja Rio explained that he wanted to tell the story from the community's own point of view, helping global audiences understand the real lives, faith, and challenges of the Konyak people.