Korkut Ata Turkic World Film Festival ends in Istanbul: “Kanto” best film, Zaur Gasimli best director

The 6th Korkut Ata Turkic World Film Festival took place in Istanbul on 3-7 November. Organised by TURKSOY, it screened 56 films from across the Turkic world, and the awards ceremony was held at the Atatürk Cultural Centre. The opening night featured the Turkish premiere of “Aitmatov”, Kanybek Kalmatov's film about the writer Chingiz Aitmatov.

In the feature fiction category, Ensar Altay's “Kanto” (Türkiye) won Best Film. Zaur Gasimli took Best Director for “Tagiyev: Mektep” (Azerbaijan) and Taalaibek Kulmendeev Best Screenplay for “Yusuf” (Kyrgyzstan). Amina Salmanova (“Farzana Goes West”, Bashkortostan) was named Best Actress and Matyokub Matchonov (“Farz”, Uzbekistan) Best Actor. The TURKSOY Special Award went to Vefa Ishangulyyev's “Gürgenç Güzeli Törebeg” (Turkmenistan), and the Jury Special Award to Torebek Beisebayev's “38: The Final Point” (Kazakhstan).

Among documentaries, “Isıyah: Summer Solstice” from the Republic of Sakha took first place, “Thirst for Life” from Uzbekistan second and “The Unquenchable Fire” from Türkiye third. The Azerbaijan-Türkiye co-production “Azıh Cave: The Cradle of Azerbaijan” won a jury special award. In short films, “Rehber” (Türkiye), “Grandmother” (Kazakhstan) and “Yusuf, the Sun Child” (Uzbekistan) took the top three places.

At the ceremony TURKSOY Secretary General Sultan Raev announced that the title of Tourism Capital of the Turkic World for 2027 passes from Ankara to Tashkent. At the opening he had said that TURKSOY will declare 2028, the centenary of Aitmatov's birth, the “Year of Chingiz Aitmatov”.