Angh director Theja Rio was accorded a warm reception by the Angami Krotho Delhi (AKD) led by AKD President, Pelhu Dolie and well-wishers
DIMAPUR — After making Nagaland and country proud by winning the prestigious Platform Competition at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) 2026, Theja Rio, Director of Angh was accorded a warm reception by the Angami Krotho Delhi (AKD) led by AKD President, Pelhu Dolie and well-wishers upon his return from Toronto on Sep. 22 at Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport.
Angh, the feature directorial debut of filmmaker Theja Rio, is the only Indian film selected for TIFF’s Platform Competition this year. One of TIFF’s premier competitive sections, Platform, is the festival’s auteur-driven competition, dedicated to bold directorial voices and distinctive cinematic storytelling, a press release stated.
By winning the Platform Competition, the film Angh receives an automatic qualification for consideration in the International Feature Film Category at the Academy Awards, informed an update issued on Tuesday.
Represented internationally and domestically for distribution by Jungle Book Studio, which acquired the film’s international sales rights ahead of its TIFF world premiere, Angh is produced by Nancy Nisa Beso and Theja Rio.
Related: A proud moment for Nagaland: Neiphiu Rio, Patton hail ‘Angh’ win at TIFF
Related: Theja Rio made ‘Angh’ with a lot of love for home
Speaking about the historic win, filmmaker Theja Rio said, “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.”
Set against the evocative backdrop of 1960s Nagaland, Angh follows an ageing Konyak village chief and his son, who remain among the last people holding on to their ancestral faith and way of life as their world undergoes profound change.
Shot on 16 mm film camera and featuring an indigenous Naga cast alongside BAFTA winning actor Douglas Henshall, the film explores the intersection of tradition, faith, family, memory and cultural transformation.
Film Association of Nagaland congratulates
The Film Association of Nagaland (FAN) in an update has extended its heartfelt congratulations to Director and Writer Theja Rio, Producer Nancy Nisa Beso, and the entire cast and crew of Angh on their remarkable achievement at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).
FAN recognises the achievement as not just an individual accomplishment but a proud moment for Nagaland's filmmakers, artistes and the entire creative community, demonstrating the potential of stories rooted in Nagaland to reach and resonate with audiences on the global stage.
The update further informed that the success of Angh represents an important chapter in the continuing development of Nagaland's film industry and has carried the voice of Nagaland to the world, marking a new chapter for Nagaland cinema and offering encouragement to emerging filmmakers and artistes across the state.