IMPHAL | Manipuri short film Toy Gun, directed by Thingnam Parshuram, has won the Best Short Feature Film – North-East India award at the 10th Chalachitram National Film Festival (CNFF 2026), which concluded at Jyoti Chitraban Film Studio in Kahilipara, Assam, on Sunday.

The two-day festival, held under the theme “Our Heritage, Our Pride”, celebrated films exploring cultural identity, heritage and regional narratives. The recognition for Toy Gun has brought fresh attention to Manipuri cinema and its portrayal of the human cost of conflict.

Running for 14 minutes and 55 seconds, Toy Gun marks the directorial debut of Parshuram, who received the Sahitya Akademi Yuva Puraskar in 2023. The film examines the psychological and emotional consequences of violence through the experiences of a widowed mother and her young son. The narrative takes a poignant turn when the child asks for a toy gun, bringing back painful memories of real-life violence for his mother.

Through this seemingly innocent request, the film explores how conflict leaves lasting scars on families and shapes the experiences of children growing up amid violence.

Strong festival run for ‘Toy Gun’

Produced by Kh Omeshwori under the banner of Freedom Ekon & Farm House Production, the film features Leishangthem Tonthoi, Thingnam Parihanba and Irengbam Premananda. Its musical score has been composed by Akhu Chingangbam. The CNFF award adds to the film’s growing list of festival achievements. 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.

The production was earlier named first runner-up at the Hyderabad International Short Film Festival 2025. The film has also secured competitive selections at several other festivals, including the 16th Bengaluru International Short Film Festival 2026, the 14th Jagran Film Festival 2026 and the 18th SIGNS Kerala Festival.

Its selection at the Bengaluru International Short Film Festival is particularly noteworthy, as the festival is an Oscar-qualifying event.

Manipuri cinema brings conflict narratives to the screen

The latest recognition underscores the ability of regional cinema to bring local experiences and complex social realities to wider audiences. By focusing on a mother’s memories and a child’s innocent curiosity, Toy Gun approaches the consequences of conflict through an intimate family story rather than through violence alone.

The film’s growing presence on the festival circuit also highlights the contribution of Manipuri filmmakers to India’s diverse independent cinema landscape, with stories rooted in the region reaching audiences beyond the Northeast.

Its success at CNFF 2026 marks another milestone for Parshuram’s directorial debut and reinforces the place of regional storytelling in conversations about heritage, memory and the enduring human impact of violence.