Highlights:
- Boong won three awards, including best debut film and best director.
- Young star Gugun Kipgen received the best child actor award.
- Baksho Bondi (Shadowbox) was named best film of the festival.
- Winners represented diverse Indian languages and regional cinema traditions.
- The festival featured 50 films, including world premieres and LGBTQ-focused shorts.
MANIPURI film Boong emerged as one of the biggest winners at the New York Indian Film Festival (NYIFF) 2026, taking home three awards, including best child actor for its young star, Gugun Kipgen.
The four-day festival concluded on Monday (1) with an awards ceremony celebrating outstanding achievements in Indian independent cinema.
Organized by the Indo-American Arts Council (IAAC), the festival ran from May 28 to 31 and featured films in 15 languages, highlighting the growing strength of regional storytelling in Indian cinema.
Boong won the best debut film award, selected by the Film Critics Circle of India. Its director, Lakshmipriya Devi, received the best director award, while Gugun Kipgen was honored as best child actor.
The festival’s top award for best film went to Baksho Bondi (Shadowbox).
Among the acting winners, Nikhil Yadav received the best actor award for his performance in Vimukt, while Meenakshi Jayan won best actress for Victoria.
The best screenplay award went to Nikhil Mahajan and Prajakt Deshmukh for Tighee.
In the documentary category, Deja Vu won best documentary feature, while Waai received the award for best documentary short. Jo’s Turn was named best narrative short.
This year’s festival showcased 19 feature films, four documentary features, and 27 short films, including several world premieres and a special LGBTQ shorts program.
The event brought together filmmakers, artists, members of the Indian American community, and film lovers from across the region.
The festival opened with a special screening of Boong on Friday (29). It also featured a screening of the restored 4K version of the classic film, Sholay.
IAAC chairman Dr Nirmal Mattoo said the New York Indian Film Festival continues to serve as an important cultural bridge between India and the United States.
“The 2026 lineup and nominations reaffirm our commitment to showcasing the richness, diversity, and artistic excellence of Indian cinema on an international stage,” he said on the eve of the festival. Festival director Aseem Chhabra said the films selected this year reflected the wide range of stories being told in India today.
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A police personnel fires tear gas shells to disperse activists and supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) during a protest demanding the resignation of India's Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged NEET examination irregularities in New Delhi on July 20, 2026. India's riot police baton-charged protesters in New Delhi as they tried to march to parliament on July 20, escalating a protest over irregularities in major examinations.Getty Images
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