BAFTA 2026: Manipuri film Boong nominated in Best Children`s & Family film

The nominations for the BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) Awards 2026 were announced on Tuesday. Manipuri film Boong is the only Indian movie to be nominated at the prestigious awards this year. Directed by Lakshmipriya Devi, the film has been nominated in the Best Children’s and Family Film category. The film has been backed by Excel Entertainment, Chalkboard Entertainment, and Suitable Pictures. It premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2024.

About Boong

Boong finds itself in distinguished company alongside films such as Ugo Bienvenu’s animated French sci-fi film Arco, Dean Fleischer Camp’s American sci-fi comedy Lilo & Stitch, and Jared Bush and Byron Howard’s Zootropolis (Zootopia) 2.

Meanwhile, Paul Thomas Anderson’s politically charged action thriller One Battle After Another leads the BAFTA race with 14 nominations, including acting nods for five of its cast members.

Boong narrates the story of a young boy from a Manipuri village who lives with his single mother after the unexplained disappearance of his father, Joykumar. Once employed out of town, Joykumar vanishes without a trace, leaving the family grappling with unanswered questions. Determined to give his mother “the best gift ever,” the boy embarks on a journey with his friend to find his missing father, forming the emotional heart of the film.

Boong is the first feature film from Devi, who earlier served as a first assistant director on Akhtar and Sidhwani`s Excel Entertainment movies such as Luck by Chance, and Talaash, besides Aamir Khan-starrer PK, and Mira Nair`s series, A Suitable Boy.

Devi shared the news in a post on her Instagram Stories and wrote, "@bafta- grateful, in shock."

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Excel Entertainment (@excelmovies)

Other BAFTA nominees

Ryan Coogler’s blues-infused vampire epic Sinners follows closely with 13 nominations, while Chloé Zhao’s Shakespearean family tragedy Hamnet and Josh Safdie’s ping-pong odyssey Marty Supreme have received 11 nominations each.

The Best Film nominees include One Battle After Another, Hamnet, Marty Supreme, Sinners, and Norwegian family drama Sentimental Value.

Best Leading Actor contenders are Robert Aramayo (I Swear), Timothée Chalamet (Marty Supreme), Leonardo DiCaprio (One Battle After Another), Ethan Hawke (Blue Moon), Michael B. Jordan (Sinners), and Jesse Plemons (Bugonia).

The BAFTA Awards 2026 will take place at London`s Royal Festival Hall on February 22.