To celebrate Europe Day, the European Union (EU) Delegation to the Kyrgyz Republic organized Annual European Film Festival in Bishkek and Osh cities on the occasion of the European Union Day. The Festival has been held between 21 May – 4 June in Ala Too and Semetey Kinobox cinemas respectively. While almost 1,400 people and children enjoyed watching 11 European films and cartoons, the festival marked another important milestone – 30 years of bilateral cooperation between the EU and the Kyrgyz Republic.

Mr Raimonds Vingris, the Head of Political, Press and Information section and acting Head of Delegation to the Kyrgyz Republic, said: “Every year we celebrate Europe Day through EU Village and Film Festival and it is becoming a good tradition of our Delegation. We bring the best of European movies to local audience. We are delighted that this year the Department of the Cinema under the Ministry of Culture, Information and Tourism of the Kyrgyz Republic joined hands in organizing the Festival, and eager to expand our cooperation in the following years”.

Noticeably that all films screened participants and nominees of the Berlin and Cannes film festivals. All screenings were held in their original languages with Russian subtitles.

Along with the Festival, the EU Delegation conducted master classes for Kyrgyz filmmakers on audience design. Over 30 young filmmakers, producers and videographers discussed audience design and co-producing with Isona Admettla, a member of the Berlinale World Cinema Foundation, teacher and sociologist with experience in Spain and Germany.

“The content of the master class was new and relevant. Although not all of us might not get the significance of the audience design, it will be useful indeed,” shared Nurlan Anarbaev, a participant in the master classes. “Knowledge and experience shared by Isona and her feedback received over current and future works of us were important for us.”

Along with the discussions, the participants reviewed their current projects and film ideas with Isona Admetlla. Consisting of mostly young professionals, the audience of the master class is expected to keep in touch with the film expert for possible collaborations and future reviews.

Photos from the Film Festival in Bishkek and Osh are available through the link.

Photos of the master class are here.