India, Feb. 27 -- A ctor Sukanya Boruah recently marked her film debut with Rima Das's Not A Hero, which went on to receive a Crystal Bear Special Mention at the 2026 Berlin International Film Festival. Describing the moment as unreal, the Assam-born actor says, "It took a few seconds to process. There was silence, then disbelief, then pure gratitude. It was really emotional for all of us." The recognition comes amid a wider spotlight on cinema from the Northeast. Filmmaker Lakshmipriya Devi's Manipuri-language film Boong recently won the Best Children's & Family Film award at the BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) awards. Reflecting on the moment for the region, Sukanya shares, "It shouldn't take international validation for the Northeast to be respected in their own country. Recognition must begin at home. That's the part that feels disappointing and even shameful. But moments like these prove that no matter how much bias exists, art will travel, voices will be heard, and identity cannot be erased." more on timeout...