Kyrgyz films to be shown at Paris Film Festival

The international film festival Cinema Heritage, held under the patronage of UNESCO, will be held for the second time in Paris on Nov. 4-8 in the famous Grand Rex cinema.

This year's festival includes two Kyrgyz films representing the country's unique culture, the Aitysh Public Foundation said.

The main competition includes Mirlan Abdykalykov's “Bride Abduction,” which tells the story of a young girl's difficult fate as a victim of an ancient custom.

The program “National Cinema Day of Kyrgyzstan” will feature the film “Gift” by Dalmira Tilepbergen, which explores family traditions through the story of seven-year-old Arno, who strives to live up to her father's expectations.

Both films explore themes of identity and cultural values, becoming part of an international dialogue supported by UNESCO.

The film festival is organized by the association AITYSH France with the support of the Embassy of Kyrgyzstan in France. The main goal of the event is to preserve and popularize film heritage, providing a platform for both contemporary films and historical masterpieces of world cinema.

UNESCO's support for the second year in a row emphasizes the importance and significance of the festival in the international arena. Founded by Kyrgyz Ambassador to France Sadyk Sher-Niyaz and producer Kuban Toichubaev, Cinema Heritage first received UNESCO's patronage in 2023.