Angh recognition expected to open doors for more Naga stories
Filmmaker Theja Rio, whose Konyak-language debut feature Angh won the Platform Prize at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and qualified for consideration at the 2027 Academy Awards, met fellow Naga filmmakers in Kohima before leaving for the United States to promote the film during the Oscar consideration period.
During a dinner interaction with filmmakers Kivini Shohe and Vileno Tase, Rio shared that his second feature film, Ade on a Weekend, has already been shot and is currently in the editing stage.
Evolving from his Tenyidie short film Ade (On a Sunday), the feature was filmed in the Phezha-Puchama area of Kohima and draws inspiration from Rio’s childhood observations. The film follows a boy named Ade and is rooted in a real house that has remained part of the filmmaker’s memories. Rio said the project continues his approach of working with ordinary people and real locations to preserve authenticity.
His earlier short film, written and directed by Rio, won the Royal Stag Barrel Short Film Award at the MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2024, organised by the Mumbai Academy of Moving Image. Like Angh, the short was shot on 16mm film in Puchama village, giving it a textured, archival quality rooted in memory and period.
Max Marius Menuoseo, who has followed Angh since its short-film version was screened at the 3rd Nagaland Film Festival (Hornbill Edition), was also present during the interaction. He said much of the discussion centred on filmmaking craft, with Rio emphasising authenticity over spectacle and the importance of keeping storytelling simple.
According to Menuoseo, Rio advised filmmakers to avoid excessive exposition, background music and drone shots, allowing the camera to remain focused on the subject and giving audiences more room to observe. He also stressed that characters should be portrayed with dignity and strength, and that every technical choice must serve the story rather than compromise its authenticity.
Rio also spoke about the extensive interviews he had given in Toronto and various Indian cities before returning to Nagaland. He appreciated the state government’s felicitation and expressed hope that the international recognition of Angh would open doors for more Naga stories.
The discussion also touched on the growth of film culture in Nagaland. Participants noted that recent film festival initiatives had helped audiences become more familiar with diverse forms of cinema, while the formation of a film association and government support had encouraged local filmmakers to create platforms for film enthusiasts.
The challenges of screening films during the Hornbill Festival were also discussed, particularly the high costs involved and the division of audiences across numerous events. The need for honest film criticism, with reviewers trusting their own responses to films, was another point raised during the interaction.
The meeting came days after the Government of Nagaland felicitated Rio and the cast and crew of Angh at the State Banquet Hall at the Chief Minister’s official residence in Kohima.
Chief Minister Dr Neiphiu Rio and his wife hosted the felicitation, describing the film’s international recognition as a historic achievement for Nagaland. The event was attended by state leaders, civil society representatives, filmmakers, film enthusiasts and officials from various government departments.
