The 1960s-set film follows a Konyak village chief and his son as ancestral traditions face a changing world
Naga filmmaker Theja Rio’s feature directorial debut ‘Angh’ has become eligible for consideration in the International Feature Film category at the 2027 Academy Awards following its win in the Platform Competition at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) 2026.
The film, which had its world premiere at TIFF, was the only Indian film selected for the festival’s Platform Competition this year.
Set in 1960s Nagaland, Angh follows an ageing Konyak village chief and his son, who are among the last to hold on to their ancestral faith and way of life as their community faces social and cultural change.
Shot on 16mm, the film features an Indigenous Naga cast alongside BAFTA-winning actor Douglas Henshall. It explores themes of tradition, faith, family, memory and cultural transformation, with the relationship between the father and son at its centre.
The film was produced by Nancy Nisa Beso and Rio. Jungle Book Studio is handling its international and domestic representation and acquired the film’s international sales rights ahead of its TIFF premiere.
Reacting to the Platform Competition win, Rio described the recognition as particularly meaningful as a debut filmmaker, saying the film was made with affection for his homeland, its people and culture.
Producer Beso said the film grew out of a long collaboration with Rio and expressed hope that its journey would encourage more filmmakers to tell stories rooted in their own communities.
Executive producer Gaurav Dhingra said the film represented a distinctive voice from Naga Indigenous filmmakers and had significance for Nagaland, Indian independent cinema and audiences beyond the region.
The film’s eligibility opens the way for its consideration in the 2027 Academy Awards’ International Feature Film category. Eligibility, however, does not itself constitute an Oscar nomination.
