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The 5th Korkut Ata Turkic World Film Festival Concludes in Aktau

The 5th Korkut Ata Turkic World Film Festival Concludes in Aktau

Throughout the festival, nearly 200 producers, directors, screenwriters, actors, and industry professionals came together. Guests also had the opportunity to discover Aktau, the 2025 Cultural Capital of the Turkic World, through film screenings, cultural excursions, and professional meetings.

International Jury Honors Feature-Length and Documentary Films

The Festival Jury was chaired by Aydyn Sakhman (Kazakhstan) and included Sahysalyh Bayramov (Turkmenistan), Nazira Mukysheva (Kazakhstan), Mehriban Zeki (Azerbaijan), Umid Iskandarov (Uzbekistan), Argen Adyl Uluu (Kyrgyzstan), Ensar Altay (Türkiye), Merzadig Agazadeh (Azerbaijan), Ömer Faruk Aksoy (Türkiye), Hasan Kydyraliev (Kyrgyzstan), Dovletgeldy Khudaberdiyev (Turkmenistan), and Gulnara Abdurakhmanova (Uzbekistan).

Following their evaluations, the jury presented awards to five documentary productions and eight feature-length films. In addition, TÜRKSOY Special Awards were presented as part of the festival.

Secretary General Sultan Raev: “We Must Ensure That Our Films Travel from City to City and That We Produce More Together”

Speaking to members of the press after the closing ceremony, TÜRKSOY Secretary General Sultan Raev emphasized that the festival had strengthened both a shared cultural memory and a common spirit of production:

“We are a large family. We must ensure that our films travel from city to city and that we create more together. Like the crane, the symbol of this festival, we will rise higher as we flap our wings together. I hope that the friendships formed in Aktau will turn into joint productions on film sets and new stories in writers’ rooms.”

Awards

Feature-Length Films

  • Special Mention: Kachkyn — Kyrgyzstan
  • Jury Special Award: Kitap — Turkmenistan
  • Best Actress (shared award):
    • Yulduz Rajabova (Shamskamar) — Uzbekistan
    • Mine Doğan (Beyond the Rails / Rayların Ötesinde) — Türkiye
  • Best Actor: Parviz Mammadrzayev (Taghiyev: Oil / Tağıyev: Neft) — Azerbaijan
  • Best Screenplay: Taleh Yuzbeyov (Mümkın) — Azerbaijan
  • Best Director: Aruan Anartai (Joqtau) — Kazakhstan
  • Best Feature Film: Kara. Kyzyl. Sary — Kyrgyzstan

Documentary Films

  • First Prize: Akesıne, menın ata-atamnyn akesıne, onyn atasy üşın pranikter — Kazakhstan
  • Second Prize: Nargin: Mysterious Until the End (Nargın: Sonuna Kadar Gizemli) — Azerbaijan
  • Third Prize: In the Footsteps of Bartók (Bartok’un İzinde) — Hungary
  • Jury Special Award: Songs of the Mountain (Dağın Şarkıları) — Türkiye
  • Jury Special Award: Boz Üy (Yurt) — Kyrgyzstan

Special Awards

  • TÜRKSOY Special Award: Resurrection of the Göktürks (Göktürklerin Dirilişi) — Türkiye
  • Contribution to the Cultural and Artistic Life of the Turkic World Award: TİKA (Türkiye) and Samal Eslyamova (Kazakhstan)