Filmmakers from Turkmenistan are taking part in the sixth Korkut Ata International Film Festival in Istanbul, reported Turkmenportal.com.
The festival is held under the patronage of Türkiye’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism and brings together directors, actors and cultural figures from Turkic-speaking countries. The opening ceremony took place at the historic Atlas 1948 cinema. It featured a film about the life of Kyrgyz writer Chingiz Aitmatov.
The programme includes creative meetings and discussions, the first Korkut Ata International Cinema Symposium and a visit to the Bozdağ film studio. The festival closes on November 7 with a gala concert and an awards ceremony.
The festival is named after Korkut Ata, the legendary bard and sage of the Oghuz Turks whose epic heritage is shared by Turkmens, Azerbaijanis, Turks and Kazakhs. UNESCO lists it as intangible cultural heritage. Turkmenistan’s participation reflects its growing cultural engagement with the Turkic world. Ashgabat is an observer in the Organization of Turkic States, and Turkmen cinema seeks wider international audiences after decades of limited exposure.
CentralasianLIGHT.org,
November 6, 2026