All about Angh, the Nagaland film that won in Toronto and is now direct Oscar contender

A film from Nagaland has made a strong mark on the international festival circuit. Angh, the feature directorial debut of filmmaker Theja Rio, has won the prestigious Platform Competition at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). The win has also earned the film eligibility for consideration in the International Feature Film category at the 2027 Academy Awards.

Angh had its world premiere at TIFF, where it was the only Indian film selected for the Platform Competition. The film received a strong response for its intimate storytelling and portrayal of a disappearing world.

The Platform section is one of TIFF's key competitive sections and focusses on distinctive films driven by strong directorial voices. The Platform winner receives automatic qualification for consideration in the International Feature Film category at the Academy Awards.

For Rio, the recognition comes with particular significance as Angh is his debut feature.What is Angh about?

Set in the early 1960s in a remote village in Nagaland, Angh follows Anghba, the last surviving chief of a village near the Indo-Burma border.

The village has been deserted by its people, but Anghba stays behind with his ailing wife and young son. As the world around him begins to change, he finds himself trying to hold on to the beliefs, traditions and way of life passed down through generations.

The arrival of an American missionary, played by Douglas Henshall, sets the transformation in motion. At the heart of the film is the relationship between Anghba and his son, who becomes increasingly drawn to the comforts and possibilities offered by the mission.

The film explores cultural change through this father-son relationship, while also looking at questions of faith, home, identity and letting go.

Rather than presenting the conflict in simple terms, Angh observes how change can take place gradually. The missionary's influence comes not only through religion but also through seemingly small gestures and material comforts.

The film features Anghlong Konyak in the lead role, alongside Douglas Henshall, known for Shetland, and actors Sobino Rengma, Genpai Konyak, Amah Konyak and Wangton Konyak.

The screenplay has been written by Theja Rio and James Davis.Who is Theja Rio?

Theja Rio is a filmmaker from Nagaland and a graduate of the UK's National Film and Television School. His work has focused on bringing stories and voices from Northeast India to wider audiences.

Before Angh, Rio directed short films including Dissociate, Checkpost, Angh and Ade (On a Sunday).

The feature is an adaptation of his 2021 short film Angh, which won a Special Jury Award at the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival. The feature is produced by Nancy Nisa Beso and Rio.What did Angh win at TIFF?

Angh won the Platform Competition at TIFF 2026. The festival's Platform jury praised the film for its “refreshing perspective, strength of filmmaking, and deeply resonant portrait of a world”.

The jury also praised Rio's “vision, audacity and courage”. The win is particularly notable because Angh was the only Indian film selected for the Platform Competition this year.What did Theja Rio say about the win?

Reacting to the recognition, Rio said the award was particularly meaningful because Angh was made from a deeply personal place.

“It is a very special moment for me and for everyone associated with the film. I am aware that it is rare for a debut film to receive this kind of recognition, and all I can say is that we made Angh with a lot of love — for the place I come from, for my people and for our culture,” he said in a statement.

Rio added that while the film centres on a father and son, its themes extend beyond the specific community depicted in the story.

“At the heart of the film is the relationship between a father and son, but it is also about letting go, our relationship with home and the transient nature of life. These are some of the most universal emotions, and they belong to all of us,” he said.

Speaking about the film's response at TIFF, he added, “To see Angh connect with audiences beyond our own community has been deeply moving. I feel humbled and deeply grateful.”

He also thanked the Platform jury for recognising the film and giving it an opportunity to represent India and Naga culture at TIFF and, potentially, the Academy Awards.Why is Angh significant?

Nagaland and the wider Northeast have rarely been represented in Indian cinema on an international scale. Angh places Naga culture, history and identity at the centre of its narrative.

The film was shot on 16mm, with its visual texture complementing its story of memory, tradition and a world undergoing change. Its sound design and use of landscape also play an important role in creating the atmosphere of the film.

For Rio, the film is also a way of documenting a culture and a way of life that he believes deserves greater visibility.

He has described Angh as “a gesture of remembrance, of pride, and of presence” — an assertion that Naga stories belong alongside stories from the rest of the world.How is Angh connected to the Oscars?

The TIFF Platform win has given Angh eligibility for consideration in the International Feature Film category at the 2027 Academy Awards.

The film is therefore Oscar-eligible, but it is not an Oscar nominee at this stage. The TIFF recognition gives it a route into consideration; the Academy's subsequent selection process will determine whether it advances further.

The achievement is nevertheless a significant milestone for Rio's debut feature and gives a story rooted in Nagaland a platform on the global awards circuit.- EndsPublished By: shweta keshriPublished On: Sep 21, 2026 08:53 IST