Naga director Theja Rio's Indian feature film Angh has won the coveted Platform Prize at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). Festival organisers announced the honour on Sunday evening, marking a major milestone for the film, which has now directly qualified for consideration in the Best International Feature Film category at the 2027 Academy Awards.
The TIFF jury commended the film's bold vision and narrative depth in an official statement, "The Platform Prize goes to Angh. For its refreshing perspective, strength of filmmaking, and deeply resonant portrait of a world. We praise the filmmaker's vision, audacity and courage."
Starting this year, the Platform Prize is one of only six international festival awards offering a direct pathway to the Academy Awards. As a result, Angh will compete alongside official national submissions, including India's Gondhal, for a nomination in the Best International Feature Film category.
Theja Rio accepted the award at the award ceremony and dedicated the win to the people 'back home.'
"Thank you to TIFF. What you have done is truly special, highlighting a film that comes from an indeginious region and speaks a tribal language. I come from a small town in the northeast of India where dreams don't often come true for my people, so if I may, I would like to dedicate this award to everyone back home. This is just a beginning," said Rio in his winning speech.
Adapted by Theja Rio from his own award-winning 2021 short film, Angh offers a rare cinematic portrayal of a culture seldom seen on screen. Set in the 1960s and spoken almost entirely in the Konyak language, the narrative captures the haunting and intimate story of a father and son, as the son becomes increasingly drawn to the comforts of a local mission while the broader culture is reframed as primitive through the process of conversion. (Agencies)
Also Read: Karan Johar announces film on RAW founder RN Kao, sets 2028 release