Amirul Islam: Indian Nagaland’s young filmmaker Theja Rio’s debut feature film ‘Ang’ has achieved significant international success. The film won the prestigious Platform Prize at the 51st Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), directly qualifying it for the Best International Feature Film category at the 2027 Academy Awards.
The 31-year-old Theja Rio had previously directed a short film with the same name in 2021. He has now expanded that story into his first feature film. ‘Ang’ was the sole Indian film in the Platform section of the Toronto festival. The film was judged best by a five-member international jury. The jury specifically lauded its directorial vision, unique storytelling, and the emotional portrayal of a disappearing community’s world.
The story of ‘Ang’ is set in 1960s Nagaland. The narrative revolves around a remote Konyak village and its chief and his son. The world around them rapidly changes, contrasting sharply with their ancestral beliefs, culture, and way of life. The arrival of an American missionary further accentuates these changes.
The villagers gradually abandon their old ways for new settlements. The influence of Western attire, churches, English education, and a new religious-social system grows. However, the village chief Angba, his ailing wife, and his speech-impaired son cling to their old life. Through their family struggles, the filmmaker tells a story of identity, belief, tradition, memory, and cultural transformation.
The film, made in the Konyak language, was shot on 16mm film by Polish cinematographer Adam Pietkiewicz. Alongside local Naga artists, BAFTA-winning Scottish actor Douglas Henshall has also acted in the film. For many local actors, this was their first time in front of a camera.
For Rio, ‘Ang’ is not just a family story; it also speaks to the identity of his community and its disappearing cultural heritage. The dedication at the end of the film reflects this sorrow—it is dedicated to the memory of all that has been lost along the journey of the Naga people.
The significance of the Platform Prize at this year’s TIFF has increased due to new Oscar eligibility rules. If a non-English language film wins this award, it directly qualifies for consideration in the Best International Feature Film category at the Oscars. Consequently, ‘Ang’ has qualified for that category at the 99th Academy Awards in 2027. However, qualification does not mean final Oscar nomination—the film will still need to pass through subsequent Academy selection processes.
India’s official submission process for the Academy Awards is separate. Therefore, ‘Ang”s Oscar qualification obtained through the TIFF award should not be considered India’s official Oscar selection.