Stanzin Jigmet, an Indian filmmaker from Ladakh, has won the Gold award in the Narrative category at the 53rd Student Academy Awards for his short film The Dragon Letter. Jigmet, who studied film directing at Escola Superior de Cinema i Audiovisuals de Catalunya (ESCAC) in Barcelona, Spain, was among the student filmmakers honoured at a ceremony held on September 14 on the sidelines of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).
The 2026 Student Academy Awards received 2,972 entries from students representing 894 colleges and universities worldwide. Jigmet’s The Dragon Letter won the Narrative category, while Antoine Boulanger’s received Silver and Leon Korzyński’s Kamathipura Express received Bronze.
The 14-minute film follows Skarma, a shy 10-year-old at a strict Ladakhi boarding school, who struggles to write a letter to his sponsor. While other children rely on a prescribed template, his own heartfelt response conveys something that polished words cannot. The story draws on Jigmet’s experiences growing up in Ladakh and explores 'childhood, self-expression and the courage to be oneself'.
Jigmet, who is from the remote village of Mulbekh in Ladakh, began learning filmmaking independently through YouTube and online tutorials and practical work in Ladakh before receiving a scholarship to study at ESCAC. He is the founder of Ladakh-based production company Pixel Challenger Films. The Dragon Letter is his debut narrative short film.
"Winning a Student Academy Award for The Dragon Letter is a dream I never imagined would come true," Jigmet told The Hollywood Reporter India. "This award belongs to everyone who believed in me and helped bring this film to life. I hope this moment inspires more young filmmakers from Ladakh to believe in their own stories and find the courage to tell them. Our stories may come from a small corner of the Himalayas, but they have the power to touch hearts across the world."
Actor Gemma Chan, Oscar-nominated filmmaker Liz Garbus and actor Gael García Bernal served as presenters at the event.
All Student Academy Award-winning films are eligible to compete for the 99th Academy Awards in the Animated Short Film, Live Action Short Film or Documentary Short Film categories.
Established in 1972, the Student Academy Awards provide a platform for emerging filmmakers worldwide. Past winners of the competition include Pete Docter, Spike Lee, Patricia Cardoso, Patricia Riggen and Robert Zemeckis.