How Kyrgyzstan Used the SCO Film Festival to Raise Its International Profile

Kyrgyzstan hosted the first International Film Festival of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states from July 16 to 19, marking the country’s largest international cinema event to date. Held at the Rukh Ordo cultural center in Cholpon-Ata to coincide with the SCO’s 25th anniversary, the festival brought together delegations from Kyrgyzstan, China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Iran, and Belarus. Each country presented one feature film, while an international jury chaired by Kyrgyz writer and director Ernest Abdyzhaparov selected the winners. The Grand Prix went to the Kyrgyz film Kara Kyzyl Sary (“Black, Red, Yellow”), giving the host nation a symbolic victory at the festival’s inaugural edition. Other awards went to Russia’s Angels of Ladoga for cinematography, Kazakhstan’s Autumn Breeze for screenplay, and Chinese director Lan Hongchun for Dear You. Acting honors were shared by performers from the Tajik-Iranian co-production Fish on the Hook and the Iranian film The Player. The festival also functioned as a forum for the region’s film industry. Discussions covered co-production and financing, along with the possibility of creating a common SCO film market. A proposal to establish a dedicated co-production fund drew particular attention. Such a fund could support joint productions rather than limiting cooperation to cultural exchanges. Participants also discussed training for young filmmakers and closer ties between film schools. Joint workshops were another area of interest. For Kyrgyz cinema, access to larger production markets could open new sources of financing and support the transfer of technical expertise. It could also help domestic films reach international audiences. Iranian jury member Ruhollah Hosseini expressed hope for peace in his country before presenting an award, giving the ceremony a more personal note. Hosting the festival was also significant for Kyrgyzstan. As the country chairs the SCO, Issyk-Kul has become one of the organization’s main venues. The festival added a cultural dimension to that role and brought officials and filmmakers from across the SCO to Kyrgyzstan. The event could also bring longer-term benefits to the Issyk-Kul Region. Visiting filmmakers were able to see the area’s mountain scenery and historic locations. They also viewed local facilities that could support future productions, potentially increasing interest in Issyk-Kul as a filming destination. Whether the festival becomes more than a one-off event will depend on the implementation of the initiatives announced in Cholpon-Ata. If the proposed co-production fund is established and the professional contacts formed during the festival develop into joint projects, the first SCO Film Festival could mark the beginning of a more integrated regional film industry rather than simply another entry on the cultural calendar. Earlier this year, The Times of Central Asia reported that the Bishkek International Film Festival had grown into one of Central Asia’s leading film industry platforms, attracting participants from more than 30 countries.