Manipuri Film ‘Boong’ Wins BAFTA, Paul Thomas Anderson’s ‘One Battle After Another’ Dominates Awards

Indian filmmaker Lakshmipriya Devi has made a remarkable entry into international cinema with her debut feature ‘Boong’, winning the Best Children’s & Family Film award at the 2026 BAFTAs. The Manipuri-language film, released in 2024, narrates the story of a young boy’s journey to find his missing father amid the backdrop of recent conflicts in Manipur. Produced collaboratively by Excel Entertainment, Chalkboard Entertainment, and Suitable Pictures, ‘Boong’ became the only Indian film nominated this year and triumphed over popular titles like Arco, Lilo & Stitch, and Zootopia 2. Devi attended the ceremony in London with her producers Alan McAlex, Ritesh Sidhwani, and Farhan Akhtar, and opened her acceptance speech with a traditional Manipuri greeting, khurumjari, while expressing hopes for peace in Manipur and wellbeing of children affected by conflict. Besides this, Alia Bhatt was present at the ceremony to present the Best Film Not in English Language award to Joachim Trier’s ‘Sentimental Value’. Among other major winners, Paul Thomas Anderson’s ‘One Battle After Another’ dominated the awards with six wins, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay. Sean Penn received Best Supporting Actor, and the film also won for cinematography and editing. Ryan Coogler’s ‘Sinners’ won Original Screenplay, Wunmi Mosaku Best Supporting Actress, and Ludwig Goransson Best Original Score. Leading Actor and Actress awards went to Robert Aramayo and Jessie Buckley respectively. Guillermo del Toro’s ‘Frankenstein’ and James Cameron’s ‘Avatar: Fire And Ash’ also received recognition in production, design, and visual effects categories. Overall, the 2026 BAFTAs highlighted both Indian and international cinema achievements.