Ladakh filmmaker Stanzin Jigmet has won the Gold award at the 53rd Student Academy Awards for his film The Dragon Letter, bringing international recognition to Indian cinema, states NDTV.
The awards ceremony took place on 14 September during the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).
According to ANI, the Student Academy Awards received 2,972 submissions this year from students representing 894 colleges and universities worldwide.
Jigmet had earlier celebrated the achievement in an Instagram post in August after the winners were announced.
“The Dragon Letter @thedragonletter has won a Student Academy Award 2026. From the remote village of Mulbekh in Ladakh, in the Indian Himalayas, to the Academy — this journey still feels unreal,” he wrote.
He dedicated the award to his family, friends, cast and crew, as well as ESCAC, Pixel Challenger Films and everyone who supported him and his personal story.
“Where we come from does not limit how far our stories can travel,” Jigmet wrote.
Academy CEO Bill Kramer, Directors Branch Governor and Academy Museum Trustee Jason Reitman, and Academy Foundation Board President and Casting Directors Branch Governor Kim Taylor-Coleman delivered remarks at the ceremony.
Actor Gemma Chan, Oscar-nominated filmmaker Liz Garbus and actor Gael Garcia Bernal served as presenters.
The winning Student Academy Award films will be eligible for consideration in three short-film categories at the 99th Academy Awards: Animated Short Film, Live Action Short Film and Documentary Short Film.
Jigmet holds a master’s degree in film directing from ESCAC in Barcelona, Spain. He also founded Pixel Challenger Films, a Ladakh-based production house specialising in cinema-grade productions.
