The International Film Festival “Gorkut ata” has started in the Palace of Mukams of the State Cultural Center of Turkmenistan, TDH reports.

The main goal of the international film forum, held with the participation of representatives of the Turkic states, is to promote cooperation in the field of cinematography, develop cinematography, and introduce the world community to the culture of the Turkic peoples.

The participation of famous film scholars, actors and experts of the Russian Federation together with the Turkic states in this event testifies to the large-scale interaction in this direction.

Recall that this event is being held in Ashgabat in connection with the announcement of the ancient Turkmen city of Anau as the cultural capital of the Turkic world in 2024. Last year, at the III Film Festival of the Turkic World, Turkmenistan received the “Crane” statuette – a symbol of the passing of the baton of the “Gorkut ata” festival.

The opening ceremony of the film festival was attended by representatives of ministries and departments, diplomatic missions and international organizations accredited in Turkmenistan, public organizations, mass media, residents and guests of the capital, as well as actors, directors, producers, and cinematographers of the Turkic states.
Traditionally, the guests of honor walked the red carpet before the ceremony. The audience greeted the members of the jury of the feature and documentary film competition with loud applause. Then, one after another, representatives of delegations from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Bashkortostan (RF), the Republic of Tuva (RF), the Chuvash Republic (RF), Moldova, Turkey, Uzbekistan, and our country followed.

An exhibition opened in the festively decorated foyer of the palace, allowing you to take an excursion into the history of Turkmen cinema. Turkmen folk melodies and songs performed by bagshy-sazandars brought a bright national flavor to the festive atmosphere.

The film festival opened with the literary and musical composition “Türkmen dünýäsi” performed by artists of the Main Academic Drama Theater of Turkmenistan named after the Great Saparmurat Turkmenbashy and dance groups of the country. The celebration continued with the screening of the video clip “Gorkut ata” prepared by the Association “Türkmenfilm” named after Oguzhan.

Then a boy in a national costume brings to the stage the transitional sign of the festival – the “Crane” statuette, which Turkmenistan will present to Kazakhstan this year. Then the guests were Introduced to the jury of the competition of feature and documentary films. Songs from Turkmen films added a bright note to the atmosphere of the festival of cinematography.

Then there was a screening of short videos, which acquainted the guests with feature and documentary films participating in the film festival “Gorkut ata”. Participants were also shown a video about films previously shot by the Oguzhan Türkmenfilm Association. The first day of the film forum ended with fiery performances by cultural and art figures of the country.

As part of the event, the foreign delegation visited the ancient Turkmen city of Anau and the Seyit Jemaletdin Mosque. The guests also visited the sights of the white marble capital of the Turkmen state.

Over the course of three days, domestic and foreign films will be shown to a wide audience in the capital’s Aşgabat cinema, Watan and Turkmenistan cinema and concert centers.

The program of the second day of the film festival includes a master class by filmmakers for students of the Turkmen State Institute of Culture. In addition, on the same day, a meeting of filmmakers from TURKSOY member countries will be held at the Aşgabat Hotel and an excursion to the International Akhal-Teke Equestrian Complex.