BAFTA 2026: India’s Boong wins Best Children and Family Film award, creates history
Farhan Akhtar-backed Manipuri film Boong won the BAFTA Award in the Best Children and Family Film category. The film was directed by Lakshmipriya Devi.
Farhan Akhtar-backed Manipuri film Boong created history as it became the first Indian film to win the BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) award in the Best Children and Family Film category. The film was directed by Lakshmipriya Devi.
boong Ugo Bienvenu’s animated science fiction French film was nominated along with films such as ArcoAmerican science fiction comedy of Dean Fletcher Camp lilo and stitch and Jared Bush-Byron Howard Zootropolis (Zootopia) 2. The award was presented by Paddington Bear, who came on stage to give a speech, saying, “I’m the first bear to give an award, and also the first presenter to get a marmalade at BAFTA.”
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Produced by Excel Entertainment, Chalkboard Entertainment and Suitable Pictures, boong It attracted considerable attention after its world premiere at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival. The film tells the story of a young boy from a Manipuri village who lives with his single mother after his father Joykumar goes missing due to unknown reasons. Once he takes a job out of town, Joykumar disappears without a trace, and the family is left with unanswered questions. The boy, determined to give his mother “the best gift ever”, sets out on a journey with his friend to search for his missing father, who forms the emotional center of the film.
boong It was also selected as the Spotlight Film at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) 2025. The film’s director Lakshmipriya Devi has received critical acclaim for her work, earning her the title of Best Director at the Bulbul Children’s International Film Festival in Goa. His ability to weave a compelling narrative that resonates across cultures has been widely praised, marking him as an emerging talent in the global film industry.
Apart from Boong, actor Alia Bhatt is also representing India as a presenter at BAFTA 2026. She made her red carpet debut in a Gucci silver sequin gown at the awards ceremony.
bafta The start time will be at 7pm GMT in London, which will start in the early hours of Monday, February 23, 2026, at 12:30am IST in India.
Fans in India can watch all the action by live streaming the 2026 BAFTAs via SonyLIV or the official BAFTA YouTube channel.
