Promo video

Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan— The capital of the Kyrgyz Republic is preparing to host the 4th Bishkek International Film Festival, which will kick off with a grand opening ceremony on June 7 at Turdakun Usubaliev Square. Growing steadily year after year, this premier Central Asian industry event is expanding its horizons, offering audiences and film professionals a packed program of premieres and encounters with global cinema stars.

World Premieres and Exclusive Screenings

The growing international prestige of the 4th Bishkek International Film Festival is underscored by the immense trust placed in it by filmmakers: this year’s lineup features six world premieres from China, Iran, Montenegro, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. Additionally, the program boasts two international premieres from China and Italy.

Screenings of these and other films within the International Competition, the Central Asian Competition, and the KyrgyzBox National Program will take place at the Broadway and TSUM Cinema theaters.

Tributes to the Classics

A one of the major highlight of this year's festival will be tribute to the legendary masters of the Kyrgyz screen. In collaboration with the Qarash Lab initiative, a special retrospective will honor the work of Dogdurbek Kydyraliev, an outstanding actor, artist, and People's Artist of the Kyrgyz Republic. As part of this retrospective, audiences will have the chance to see his acclaimed masterpieces—The Descendant of the White Leopard (Ak Ilbirstin tukumu) and The Fall of Otrar—on the big screen.

New Industry Programs and Educational Initiatives

The Bishkek International Film Festival continues to develop as a vital platform for the film business. This year, alongside the traditional CAF Pitch, the festival is launching two brand-new initiatives to support filmmakers:

• Work In Progress Program: Designed to support full-length fiction feature films in the post-production stage. Seven to ten selected projects (with a special focus on emerging filmmakers and debutants) will have a unique opportunity to present rough cuts to an international jury, receive expert consultations, and secure tangible support for international distribution and sales.
• Script Workshop 2026: A year-long script development program for emerging writers and directors. Six selected projects will undergo an intensive, in-person workshop during the festival (June 7–12) under the guidance of three international tutors, followed by a year of online mentorship.
• "Old Square Screenings" (Open-Air Program): To champion young filmmakers, special evening screenings of the finest short films from leading film and arts academies will take place on Bishkek’s Old Square from June 8 to 11. Starting daily at 20:00, the institutions will present their works as follows: Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University (June 8), American University of Central Asia / AUCA (June 9), Compass College (June 10), and the B. Beyshenalieva Kyrgyz State University of Culture and Arts (June 11).

All industry section events will be hosted at the modern venues of the festival’s partners - Compass College and the Sofia Hotel.

International Partnership

Continuing its tradition of cultural exchange, the festival welcomes Mongolia as this year’s Guest Country. The integration of the Bishkek International Film Festival into the European network Moving Images – Open Borders (MIOB), coupled with the attendance of film industry professionals and specialized media representatives from over 30 countries, highlights Bishkek’s growing influence on the continental cinematic map.

Established by Decree of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic and organized by the Ministry of Culture, Information, Sports and Youth Policy in cooperation with the Bishkek City Hall, the Bishkek International Film Festival continues to open new horizons for Central Asian cinema.