BAFTA-winning Manipuri film 'Boong' emerged as one of the biggest winners at the recently concluded New York Indian Film Festival (NYIFF) 2026, securing three major honours, including the Best Child Actor award for its young lead performer.
The four-day festival wrapped up on Sunday with an awards ceremony celebrating outstanding achievements in Indian cinema across ten competitive categories. Held from May 28 to 31, the festival featured an eclectic selection of films in 15 languages, highlighting the growing influence of regional storytelling in contemporary Indian cinema. As North America’s longest-running festival dedicated to Indian independent films, NYIFF brought together filmmakers, actors, and cinema enthusiasts from across the globe.
Presented by the Indo-American Arts Council (IAAC), this year’s edition showcased 19 narrative feature films, four documentary features, and 27 short films, both narrative and documentary. The programme included several world premieres as well as a special showcase of LGBTQ-themed short films.
The festival’s highest honour, Best Film, went to 'Baksho Bondi (Shadowbox)'. Meanwhile, 'Boong'—which made history earlier this year by winning the BAFTA for Best Children’s and Family Film—dominated the awards ceremony. The film won Best Debut Film, selected by the Film Critics Circle of India, while director Lakshmipriya Devi was named Best Director and 'Gugun Kipgen' received the Best Child Actor award.
Among the acting categories, Nikhil Yadav won Best Actor for his performance in Vimukt, while Meenakshi Jayan earned the Best Actress award for 'Victoria'. The Best Screenplay prize was awarded to Nikhil Mahajan and Prajakt Deshmukh for 'Tighee'. In the documentary section, Deja Vu claimed Best Documentary Feature, while 'Waai' won Best Documentary Short. The Best Narrative Short award went to 'Jo’s Turn'.
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The festival concluded with a star-studded awards ceremony attended by filmmakers, members of the Indian-American community, and cinema lovers. NYIFF 2026 opened on May 29 with a special screening of 'Boong' and also featured a 4K restored screening of the iconic classic 'Sholay'.
Ahead of the festival, IAAC Chairman Dr Nirmal Mattoo described NYIFF as an important cultural bridge connecting audiences across borders. He noted that the 2026 lineup reflected the organisation’s commitment to presenting the diversity, richness, and artistic excellence of Indian cinema to global audiences.
Festival Director Aseem Chhabra said the nominated films showcased the breadth and depth of storytelling emerging from India today. He observed that the selection ranged from intense human dramas to comedies and stories capturing the concerns and aspirations of Millennials and Gen Z, demonstrating a cinema that remains deeply rooted in local realities while resonating internationally.
The IAAC noted that NYIFF 2026 continues its mission of supporting emerging talent while celebrating cinematic excellence, further strengthening its reputation as a leading international platform for Indian independent cinema. Executive Director Suman Gollamudi added that the festival remains a vital launchpad for independent filmmakers and is committed to amplifying unique and diverse voices from across the Indian film landscape.
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