Boong takes home three awards at NYIFF 2026
BAFTA-winning Manipuri film Boong has done it again. At the just-concluded New York Indian Film Festival (NYIFF) 2026, the film walked away with three major trophies, including the Best Child Actor award for its young star Gugun Kipgen. The festival, which ran from May 28 to 31, celebrated the best of Indian cinema across ten competitive categories, and Boong emerged as one of the biggest winners of the evening.
The film, which made history earlier this year by winning the BAFTA Award for Best Children’s and Family Film, also picked up the Best Debut Film award, selected by the Film Critics Circle of India, and the Best Director honour for Lakshmipriya Devi. The wins come as a testament to the growing global recognition of regional Indian cinema, with the festival showcasing films in 15 languages and 19 narrative features, four documentaries, and 27 shorts.
Other winners and festival highlights
While Boong dominated the night, the top honour of Best Film went to Baksho Bondi (Shadowbox). In the acting categories, Nikhil Yadav was named Best Actor for his performance in Vimukt, while Meenakshi Jayan took home the Best Actress award for Victoria. The Best Screenplay award went to Nikhil Mahajan and Prajakt Deshmukh for Tighee.
In the non-fiction categories, Deja Vu won Best Documentary Feature, Waai claimed Best Documentary Short, and Jo’s Turn won Best Narrative Short. The festival also featured a special screening of the 4K restored version of cult classic Sholay, and opened with a screening of Boong on May 29.
NYIFF as a platform for independent cinema
Presented by the Indo-American Arts Council (IAAC), NYIFF 2026 included a special LGBTQ shorts program and several world premieres. IAAC chairman Dr. Nirmal Mattoo said before the festival that NYIFF stands as a powerful cultural bridge. Festival director Aseem Chhabra noted that the nominated films represent the range and depth of storytelling in India today, from human dramas to comedies and narratives reflecting the angst of Millennials and Gen Z.
IAAC executive director Suman Gollamudi added that NYIFF continues to serve as a critical launchpad for independent filmmakers on the global stage, reinforcing its position as a key platform for Indian independent cinema. With Boong leading the charge, regional storytelling is clearly having its moment in the international spotlight.