Kohima: Theja Rio brought his feature debut, ANGH, to the 51st Toronto International Film Festival on September 15, 2026. The film explores identity and faith in the 1960s. It centers on an aging village chief and former headhunter. He faces a world undergoing massive change.
The journey started years ago. Rio initially shot ANGH as a short film. Scaling it up required building an entire village from scratch. The production team used Super 16mm film for the shoot. They relied on a large cast of first-time actors. Despite daily logistical hurdles, the crew pushed through. "I wasn’t interested in making a historical film in the conventional sense," Rio said. "I wanted to tell a deeply human story about identity, faith, family, loss and belonging."
Producer Nancy Nisa Beso shared a deep connection to the project. Both creators hail from Kohima. They collaborated on short films before tackling this feature. Beso insisted on authenticity. They filmed on their own land using their own language. She hopes global audiences connect with the characters despite the specific cultural setting.
The Naga community in Toronto offered strong support to the team. This milestone carries weight back home in Nagaland. Rio is now finishing his next project, Ade (On A Weekend). It is currently in post-production after being shot on 16mm film in Nagaland.
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