Imphal: Manipuri short film “Toy Gun” has won the Best Short Feature Film – North-East India award at the 10th Chalachitram National Film Festival (CNFF 2026), which concluded on Sunday at the Jyoti Chitraban Film Studio in Kahilipara. The two-day festival, held under the theme “Our Heritage, Our Pride”, celebrated films exploring cultural identity, heritage and regional narratives.
Running for 14 minutes and 55 seconds, “Toy Gun” marks the directorial debut of Thingnam Parshuram, a recipient of the Sahitya Akademi Yuva Puraskar in 2023. The film examines the psychological and emotional toll of conflict through the experiences of a widowed mother and her young son. The story takes a poignant turn when the child asks for a toy gun, triggering painful memories of real-life violence for his mother.
Produced by Kh Omeshwori under the banner of Freedom Ekon & Farm House Production, the film features Leishangthem Tonthoi, Thingnam Parihanba and Irengbam Premananda, with a musical score composed by Akhu Chingangbam.
The latest recognition adds to an impressive run for the film on the festival circuit. In March 2026, “Toy Gun” won the Best Non-Feature Film award at the third North East India Film Festival, where it was also screened as the closing film. Earlier, the production was named first runner-up at the Hyderabad International Short Film Festival 2025.
The film has also earned competitive selections at several prominent festivals, including the 16th Bengaluru International Short Film Festival (BISFF) 2026, which qualifies for the Oscars, the 14th Jagran Film Festival 2026 and the 18th SIGNS Kerala Festival.
Beyond its own accolades, the film’s growing list of honours points to the increasing visibility of Manipuri cinema on national platforms and its engagement with themes of conflict, memory and the human cost of violence.
Original Source: https://nenow.in/north-east-news/manipur/manipur-short-film-toy-gun-wins-best-short-feature-film-award-at-cnff-2026.html
Category: Manipur,Northeast News,Top News
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Publish Date: 2026-10-26 08:12:00
