Kohima, October 2 (NNN): Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Wednesday felicitated Naga filmmaker Theja Rio and Team Angh for winning the prestigious Platform Prize at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) 2026.
Speaking at a felicitation programme at the State Banquet Hall, CMRC, Kohima, Rio described the achievement as a historic milestone for Nagaland, noting that a story rooted in Nagaland had reached an international audience through a Naga filmmaker’s own voice.
Angh, set in the 1960s, follows a Konyak village chief and his son as they navigate traditional life amid changing circumstances. Shot on 16mm, the film features an indigenous Naga cast alongside BAFTA Award-winning actor Douglas Henshall. It was the only Indian entry in TIFF’s Platform Competition and subsequently won the Platform Prize.
The Chief Minister highlighted the contributions of Theja Rio, producer Nancy Nisa Beso, executive producer Gaurav Dhingra, cinematographer Adam Pietkiewicz, and the cast and crew. He also said the journey of young performers from interior Nagaland to an international film festival demonstrated the potential of Naga creatives to reach global audiences.
Rio called for greater investment in cinema, music, arts, culture, sports, entrepreneurship and innovation, saying these sectors can create opportunities while taking Nagaland’s identity beyond the State.
The programme included felicitations from various government departments and organisations, a musical presentation by TaFMA, a segment on Theja Rio’s filmmaking journey, felicitation of the Angh cast and crew, and a screening of the film’s trailer.
