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The 6th Korkut Ata Turkic World Film Festival Concludes with Awards Ceremony

The 6th Korkut Ata Turkic World Film Festival Concludes with Awards Ceremony

 

The 6th Korkut Ata Turkic World Film Festival came to a close with an awards ceremony held in Istanbul. A total of 14 awards were presented across three main categories, with Kanto receiving the Best Film Award. The title of Turkic World Tourism Capital was also handed over from Ankara to Tashkent.

Organised under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Türkiye, the 6th Korkut Ata Turkic World Film Festival concluded with a closing and awards ceremony held at the Atatürk Cultural Centre (AKM) in Istanbul.

The evening was hosted by Nefise Karatay and attended by Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, Chairman of the Uzbekistan Tourism Committee Abdulaziz Akkulov, TÜRKSOY Secretary General Sultan Raev, as well as filmmakers and artists from across the Turkic world. The Istanbul State Symphony Orchestra also gave a special concert.

Kanto Receives the Best Film Award

Bringing together filmmakers from 10 countries and 10 autonomous republics and communities, the festival presented 56 films to audiences. A total of 30 productions competed in the feature fiction, documentary and short film competitions, with 14 awards presented.

The Best Film Award was presented to Ensar Altay, director of Kanto, by Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy.

In the feature fiction competition, Zaur Gasimli won Best Director for Taghiyev: The School, Amina Salmanova received Best Actress for Farzana Goes West, and Matyokub Matchonov won Best Actor for Farz. The Best Screenplay Award went to Yusuf, the Jury Special Award to 38: The Final Point, and the TÜRKSOY Special Award to The Beauty of Gürgenç: Törebeg.

In the documentary competition, Isyah: Summer Solstice won first prize, followed by Thirst for Life in second place and The Undying Fire in third place. The Jury Special Award went to Azykh Cave: The Cradle of Azerbaijan.

The short film competition, organised for the first time this year, saw The Guide win first prize, Grandmother take second place, and The Sun Child Yusuf receive third prize.

Minister Ersoy: “We Contribute to the Ideal of Unity Across the Turkic World”

Addressing the ceremony, Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy emphasised that the festival helps preserve the shared cultural heritage of the Turkic world through new cinematic works and strengthens ties among its countries and communities.

“We attach great importance to contributing, through culture and the arts, to the ideal of unity in language, thought and action across the Turkic world,” Ersoy said. He noted that the festival had brought together more than 150 international guests and 300 industry representatives from Türkiye.

Ersoy also announced that support would be provided to four selected film projects following the Türkiye–Kyrgyzstan Project Presentation Event, organised for the first time as part of the festival.

Turkic World Tourism Capital Title Passes to Tashkent

During the closing ceremony, the title of Turkic World Tourism Capital, held by Ankara in 2026, was officially handed over to Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, for 2027.

The handover ceremony was attended by Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy and Chairman of the Uzbekistan Tourism Committee Abdulaziz Akkulov, highlighting the importance of strengthening cooperation in the fields of culture and tourism.

Minister Ersoy expressed his confidence that Tashkent would successfully carry the title and stated that Türkiye was ready to support Uzbekistan throughout the process.

Meet the Award Winners of the Korkut Ata Film Festival

FEATURE FICTION FILM COMPETITION

  • Best Film: Kanto – Ensar Altay (Türkiye)

  • Best Director: Taghiyev: The School – Zaur Gasimli (Azerbaijan)

  • Best Screenplay: Yusuf – Taalaibek Kulmendeev (Kyrgyzstan)

  • Best Actress: Amina Salmanova – Farzana Goes West (Bashkortostan)

  • Best Actor: Matyokub Matchonov – Farz (Uzbekistan)

  • Jury Special Award: 38: The Final Point – Torebek Beisebayev (Kazakhstan)

  • TÜRKSOY Special Award: The Beauty of Gürgenç: Törebeg – Vefa Ishangulyev (Turkmenistan)

DOCUMENTARY FILM COMPETITION

  • First Prize: Isyah: Summer Solstice – Semyon Amanatov, Mikhail Lukachevskiy, Sardaana Barabanova, Radomir Tomskiy, Lubov Borisova (Sakha Republic)

  • Second Prize: Thirst for Life – Muminjon Tursunov (Uzbekistan)

  • Third Prize: The Undying Fire – Tunç Boran (Türkiye)

  • Jury Special Award: Azykh Cave: The Cradle of Azerbaijan – Atakan Kerküklü (Azerbaijan–Türkiye)

SHORT FILM COMPETITION

  • First Prize: The Guide – Mert Erez (Türkiye)

  • Second Prize: Grandmother – Temirlan Orysbayev (Kazakhstan)

  • Third Prize: The Sun Child Yusuf – Suhrob Qodirov and Dilshod Usmonov (Uzbekistan)