Acclaimed Manipuri film Boong emerged as one of the biggest winners at the 2026 New York Indian Film Festival (NYIFF), securing three major awards, including the prestigious Best Child Actor honour for its young lead performer.
Directed by Lakshmipriya Devi, Boong earned the Best Child Actor award for Gugun Kipgen, while Lakshmipriya Devi was recognised as Best Director. The film also received the Best Debut Film award, selected by the festival’s critics’ circle.
The 2026 edition of NYIFF concluded on Sunday after a four-day celebration of Indian independent cinema. Organized by the Indo-American Arts Council, the festival featured 19 feature films, four feature documentaries, and 27 short films from across India.
Festival organisers highlighted the growing international recognition of regional Indian cinema, noting that this year’s selections represented 15 different languages and showcased the diversity of storytelling emerging from various parts of the country.
In other major categories, Nikhil Vaid won the Best Actor award for his performance in Vinnukut. The Best Actress award was jointly shared by Meenakshi Jayan for Mahajan and Victoria Thek and Prajakta Deshmukh for Tighee.
In the documentary section, Deja Vu won the Best Documentary Feature award, while Jo’s Turn was honoured as Best Narrative Short Film.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, Indo-American Arts Council Chairman Nirmal Mattoo said the festival reflected the richness, diversity, and evolving narratives of contemporary Indian cinema. He noted that many of the featured films explored themes relevant to younger generations while remaining deeply rooted in local cultures and traditions.
The festival concluded with a special screening of Boong on May 29, marking a fitting finale to an edition that further strengthened NYIFF’s reputation as a premier global platform for Indian independent filmmaking.
