Toronto/CMEDIA: Directed and screenplayed by Theja Rio, and executive produced by Gaurav Dhingra, TIFF 2026 film ‘Angh’, a Nagaland film, is a feature directorial debut that was world-premiered in Toronto’s Platform section.
‘Angh’, the only Indian entry in TIFF’s Platform Competition, took the top prize for its perspective, strength of filmmaking, his vision, audacity and courage, securing its path to 2027 Oscars. Theja Rio’s feature directorial debut expands on his 2021 short of the same name and was produced by Nancy Nisa Beso.
The plot of the film portrays Anghba’s wife Anghya (Amah Konyak) who is terminally ill and worried that once she’s gone, Anghba and their mute son Amao (Sobino Rengma) will be alone. Their wooden house is largely deserted. The arrival of an American missionary (Douglas Henshall, Shetland) sets in motion the region’s transformation, leaving Anghba to guard the beliefs and customs that have been passed down through generations. Those converted Baptism are banned from the village and live in a nearby compound where they learn English, attend church and wear Western clothes. When they come back to take Anghya for medical help, Anghba refuses, much to the silent anger of Amao. No matter how many times Anghba attempts to shield his son from the outside world, he cannot stop Amao in visiting the Baptist village where he’s surrounded by Baptism and new technology, including a radio.
Hailing from Nagaland, he feels this story to be a personal one, hiring first-time actors from the local Konyak community and keeping the dialogue in the Konyak language. He also shoots this early 1960s-set film on 16mm.
Angh is also a rich historical document marking the point of no return for a tribe and a culture.
