Movies
“Boong” wins BAFTA for Best Children’s and Family Film
Manipuri-language debut by Lakshmipriya Devi triumphs over Disney’s Lilo & Stitch and Zootopia 2 at 2026 awards.
MUMBAI: A little boy from Manipur just taught the BAFTAs a big lesson sometimes the smallest journeys pack the mightiest emotional punch. “Boong”, the tender Manipuri-language coming-of-age tale directed by Lakshmipriya Devi in her feature debut, clinched the BAFTA for Best Children’s and Family Film on 23 February 2026. The film beat out heavyweights including Disney’s live-action Lilo & Stitch, animated sequel Zootopia 2, and the science-fantasy Arco to claim the prize.
The story follows young Boong (Gugun Kipgen), who believes reuniting his mother Mandakini (Bala Hijam) with his long-absent father Joykumar would be the perfect gift. When rumours swirl that his father has died after migrating to the border town of Moreh for work, Boong together with his loyal friend Raju (Angom Sanamatum) sets off on an innocent, determined quest for truth and a fresh start. What begins as a child’s simple wish unfolds into a heartfelt exploration of family, hope, and resilience.
Backed by actor-producers Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani via Excel Entertainment, and co-produced by Chalkboard Entertainment and Suitable Pictures, “Boong” premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2024 before a theatrical release in September that year. It later screened at the Warsaw International Film Festival, MAMI Mumbai Film Festival, 55th International Film Festival of India, and Indian Film Festival of Melbourne.
Lakshmipriya Devi, who previously served as first assistant director on films including Luck by Chance, Talaash, PK, and Mira Nair’s A Suitable Boy, brings a grounded yet lyrical touch to her debut. The win marks a proud milestone for Indian regional cinema on the global stage.
While the main BAFTA best film race features heavy-hitters like One Battle After Another, Hamnet, Marty Supreme, Sinners, and Sentimental Value, and the British film category includes The Ballad of Wallis Island, Pillion, I Swear, and Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, “Boong” stands out as the sole Indian contender to take home gold this year.
In a night where directing nods went to Paul Thomas Anderson, Josh Safdie, Ryan Coogler, Yorgos Lanthimos, Joachim Trier, and Chloé Zhao (who could become the first woman to win two BAFTA directing awards after Nomadland), “Boong” quietly proved that heartfelt storytelling from distant corners can resonate louder than any blockbuster budget.
For once, a six-year-old’s dream outshone Disney magic and the BAFTA stage just got a little more colourful.
Hollywood
Trump invested over $1.1m in Netflix bonds at the peak of Warner Bros bidding battle
Financial disclosures show U.S. president also bought Warner Bros Discovery debt during high-stakes media takeover race.
WASHINGTON: New government financial disclosures show that U.S. president Donald Trump purchased more than $1.1 million worth of bonds issued by Netflix over the past three months. The transactions occurred during a period when Netflix was engaged in a competitive bidding war for Warner Bros. Discovery, a potential merger that the Trump administration had publicly criticised on antitrust grounds.
Between December and January, the president acquired Netflix bonds valued between $1.1 million and $2.25 million. The bonds carry a 5.375 per cent interest rate and are scheduled to mature in November 2029. Financial disclosures also revealed an additional investment in Warner Bros Discovery bonds. The purchase was valued between $500,002 and $1 million, with the debt reportedly bought at roughly 92 cents on the dollar. The bonds are now trading at around 95 cents on the dollar, leaving the position currently in profit.
The timing of the investments has drawn scrutiny because the administration had been openly critical of Netflix’s market activities at the time. While the president’s trust was purchasing the debt, the administration reportedly pressured Netflix to remove board member Susan Rice and expressed concerns that a Netflix–Warner merger could harm competition.
The White House has dismissed conflict-of-interest concerns, stating that the president’s assets are managed independently by his children. Spokesperson Anna Kelly said U.S. presidents are legally exempt from the conflict-of-interest laws that apply to other federal officials.
Despite the financial interest, Netflix ultimately lost the race to acquire Warner Bros Discovery. Paramount Skydance secured the deal on 27 February with a $110 billion offer. The acquisition was backed by Larry Ellison, who guaranteed $40 billion to support the bid, while major lenders including Bank of America, Citigroup and Apollo Global Management provided $39 billion in financing.
The final acquisition leaves the combined Paramount entity carrying roughly $85 billion in debt, while Netflix withdrew its bid roughly two weeks before the official disclosure report was released.
