Theja Rio urges Nagaland to build a stronger cinema ecosystem, creating opportunities for local artists following Angh’s international recognition
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KOHIMA — Filmmaker Theja Rio has called for a stronger ecosystem for cinema in Nagaland, suggesting that the international recognition of ‘Angh’ should help create more opportunities for local artists and storytellers.
Theja was speaking at a felicitation programme organised for him and the ‘Angh’ team at the State Banquet Hall, CMRC, Kohima, on Wednesday night. The film won the Platform Prize at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) 2026.
A trailer of ‘Angh’ was also screened during the programme after special permission was obtained.
Recalling his journey as a filmmaker, the filmmaker said that he had been writing from a young age, beginning with songs when he was about nine before moving on to short stories and, eventually, screenplays.
He shared that he chose to direct because he wanted to bring his own vision to the screen. Producer Nancy Nisa Beso, whom he had known since childhood, later became his professional mentor.
Also read: Theja Rio’s ‘Angh’ wins TIFF’s Platform Prize
Theja Rio made ‘Angh’ with a lot of love for home
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The young filmmaker described the making of the short-film version of ‘Angh’ in 2019 as a turning point in his creative journey. The experience, he said, helped him find his artistic identity and gave him the confidence to tell stories rooted in Naga culture, history and people.
Theja said that he hoped to be remembered not simply as a filmmaker who won an award, but as someone who contributed to a wider conversation about nurturing cinema in Nagaland, supporting artists and creating opportunities for future generations.
“Cinema is not merely entertainment. It is memory, identity and a way of preserving who we are,” he said, adding that stories from Nagaland could travel beyond the state and connect with audiences unfamiliar with its hills, languages and history.
The filmmaker maintained that the recognition received by ‘Angh’ had shown that Naga stories could find an international audience, regardless of Nagaland’s size or geographical location.
Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio said that one of the remarkable aspects of ‘Angh’ was its “organic nature”, describing the story as pure and real.
According to him, the achievement reflected a wider change in Nagaland, with a new generation becoming more confident and creative while remaining rooted in its identity and maintaining a global outlook.
The chief minister encouraged young people not to be intimidated by their origins, but to dream big and work hard. He acknowledged that the state government had a responsibility to create the ecosystem and opportunities needed for young people to pursue their ambitions.
“We must continue investing in cinema, music, arts, culture, sport, entrepreneurship and innovation,” he said, adding that these were not peripheral activities but could create livelihoods, build confidence and take Nagaland’s identity and image beyond its borders.
Producer Nancy Nisa Beso, lead actor Anghlong Konyak, and representatives of the Konyak Union, Naga Students’ Federation, Eastern Naga Students’ Federation and Film Association of Nagaland also addressed the gathering.
Kivini Shohe, founding member and former president of the Film Association of Nagaland, was also present.
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