Manipuri Film Boong Makes History as First Northeast Indian BAFTA Winner

A young boy's journey along the Myanmar border captivated BAFTA voters. Now, Boong is rewriting the rules for Indian cinema beyond Bollywood.

, and Administrator

2026 February 23 . 1:05 AM

1 min read

The image shows a black and white photo of a group of children sitting in a movie theater, with a... — The image shows a black and white photo of a group of children sitting in a movie theater, with a dark background. The children are sitting on chairs, and the floor can be seen at the bottom of the image.

Manipuri Film Boong Makes History as First Northeast Indian BAFTA Winner

The Manipuri-language film Boong has made history by winning Best Children's & Family Film at the 2026 BAFTA Awards. Directed by Lakshmipriya Devi, it became the first film from India's Northeast region to ever receive a BAFTA. The victory marks a rare moment of global recognition for a part of the country often overlooked in mainstream cinema.

Boong tells the story of a young boy searching for his missing father along the Myanmar border. The film premiered at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival before being named Spotlight Film at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne. Its success at BAFTA now gives it stronger leverage in international distribution and streaming deals.

The win is particularly significant for India's Northeast, where filmmaking infrastructure is almost non-existent. Before Boong, no film from the region had ever won at major festivals like TIFF or BAFTA. Bollywood producer Farhan Akhtar's Excel Entertainment backed the project, signalling a growing interest in regional cinema from mainstream studios.

On Sunday night, director Lakshmipriya Devi accepted the award from British favourite Paddington Bear. The moment highlighted not just her achievement but also the untapped potential of storytelling from India's northeastern states.

The BAFTA win puts Boong in a unique position within Indian cinema. It opens doors for wider distribution and could encourage more investment in films from the Northeast. For now, the victory stands as a milestone for Manipuri and regional storytelling on the world stage.