Nagaland film Angh wins TIFF Platform Prize, qualifies for 2027 Oscars

Theja Rio’s debut feature film, ‘Angh’, has won the Platform Prize at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) 2026. As the only Indian film in this year’s Platform Competition, the victory grants the film automatic qualification for consideration in the Best International Feature Film category at the 99th Academy Awards in 2027.

Set in 1960s Nagaland, the film follows an aging Konyak village chief and his son as they struggle to maintain their ancestral traditions and faith amidst profound cultural shifts brought by an American missionary. Shot on 16mm film, the production features a largely Indigenous Naga cast alongside BAFTA-winning actor Douglas Henshall.

Rio, who expanded the feature from his 2021 short film of the same name, described the recognition as a “very special moment” for his community. The film’s win marks a significant milestone for Naga cinema on the global stage. Under revised Academy rules, winners from major festivals like TIFF now receive a direct pathway to Oscar consideration, bypassing the traditional requirement of being a country’s sole official submission.