The Manipuri film Boong, directed by Lakshmipriya Devi, has garnered a nomination in the Children’s and Family Film category at the 2026 BAFTA Film Awards. The nominations were announced on January 27, 2026. This marks a significant achievement for Indian regional cinema, particularly for a film from the northeast region of India. Boong is the sole Indian film nominated at the 2026 BAFTAs.

Boong is competing against Arco, Lilo & Stitch, and Zootropolis 2 in its category. The film is produced by Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani under the banner of Excel Entertainment.

Lakshmipriya Devi makes her directorial debut with Boong. She previously worked as a first assistant director on films such as Luck by Chance, Talaash, PK, and A Suitable Boy.

The film tells the story of Boong, a schoolboy from Manipur, who embarks on a journey to find his father, Joykumar, who has gone missing after leaving their home city for Moreh, near Myanmar, in search of better job opportunities. Boong refuses to believe rumors of his father's death and teams up with his best friend, Raju, to uncover the truth. The cast includes Gugun Kipgen as Boong, Bala Hijam as Mandakini (Boong's mother), and Angom Sanamatum as Raju.

Boong premiered at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival in the Discovery section. It has since been screened at several global film festivals, including the Warsaw International Film Festival, MAMI Mumbai Film Festival, the International Film Festival of India, and the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne. The film was released in Indian theaters on September 19, 2025.

In the broader context of the 2026 BAFTA nominations, Paul Thomas Anderson's One Battle After Another leads with 14 nominations, followed by Ryan Coogler's Sinners with 13 nods. Hamnet by Chloé Zhao and Josh Safdie's Marty Supreme each received 11 nominations. The 79th BAFTA Film Awards ceremony is scheduled to take place on February 22, 2026, in London.