The BAFTA-winning Manipuri film 'Boong' emerged as the biggest winner at the New York Indian Film Festival (NYIFF) 2026, securing three awards including the Best Child Actor honour for its young protagonist Gugun Kipgen.
NYIFF 2026 Awards Ceremony
The four-day festival, held from May 28 to 31, concluded with an awards ceremony celebrating Indian cinema across ten competitive categories. The event brought together filmmakers and artists at North America's longest-running festival dedicated to Indian independent cinema.
This year's edition, presented by the Indo-American Arts Council (IAAC), featured 19 narrative features, four documentary features, and 27 shorts (narratives and documentaries), including several world premieres and a special LGBTQ shorts program.
'Boong' Dominates with Three Wins
'Boong', which made history by winning the BAFTA award in the Best Children's and Family Film category in February 2026, took home three awards at NYIFF:
- Best Debut Film (selected by the Film Critics Circle of India)
- Best Director for Lakshmipriya Devi
- Best Child Actor for Gugun Kipgen
The top honour of Best Film went to 'Baksho Bondi' (Shadowbox).
Other Major Winners
Nikhil Yadav was named Best Actor for his performance in 'Vimukt', while Meenakshi Jayan won Best Actress for 'Victoria'. The Best Screenplay award was given to Nikhil Mahajan and Prajakt Deshmukh for 'Tighee'.
In the non-fiction categories, 'Deja Vu' won Best Documentary Feature and 'Waai' claimed Best Documentary Short, while 'Jo's Turn' won Best Narrative Short.
Festival Highlights
The festival opened with a special screening of 'Boong' on May 29 and also showcased the 4K restored version of the cult classic 'Sholay'.
IAAC chairman Dr Nirmal Mattoo stated that NYIFF serves as a powerful cultural bridge, reaffirming the commitment to showcasing the richness and diversity of Indian cinema on an international stage.
Festival Director Aseem Chhabra noted that the nominated films represented the range and depth of storytelling in India today, from human dramas to comedies, reflecting the angst of Millennials and Gen Z.
IAAC Executive Director Suman Gollamudi emphasized that NYIFF continues to serve as a critical launchpad for independent filmmakers globally, amplifying distinctive voices across Indian cinema.
