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 Gugun Kipgen.

Directed by Lakshmipriya Devi, the film earned the Best Director award for the filmmaker, while Gugun Kipgen received widespread acclaim after winning the Best Child Actor award for his performance in the film. Boong also bagged 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. Organised by the Indo-American Arts Council, the festival featured 19 feature films, four feature documentaries and 27 short films from across India and the diaspora.

The latest international recognition adds to Boong’s historic achievement earlier this year at the 79th British Academy Film Awards (BAFTA) 2026, where the Manipuri-language film became the first Indian film ever to win the BAFTA award for Best Children’s and Family Film.

The landmark victory marked a defining moment not only for Manipuri cinema but also for Indian regional filmmaking on the global stage. Boong triumphed over several internationally acclaimed productions, including Disney’s Zootopia 2 and Lilo & Stitch, drawing global attention to the rich storytelling traditions of Northeast India.

Produced by renowned filmmaker Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani under the banner of Excel Entertainment, the film was praised for its emotional depth, authentic portrayal of life in Manipur, and its sensitive coming-of-age narrative centered around a young boy navigating conflict, displacement and family separation.

Critics and international audiences alike lauded the film for bringing Manipuri language, culture and lived experiences to a worldwide audience, while also highlighting the resilience and humanity of communities in the region.