Award-winning Kyrgyz drama 'Kurak' blocked from home premiere after censorship ruling

Award-winning Kyrgyz drama Kurak has been pulled from the Bishkek International Film Festival after authorities refused to grant the film a mandatory state registration certificate, preventing it from being publicly screened in its home country.

Deadline reported that the decision came less than a day before the film was due to make its national premiere at the fourth edition of the festival, marking a dramatic setback for a production that has already earned recognition at major international events.

Film denied screening approval ahead of festival premiere

The team behind Kurak announced that Kyrgyzstan's Department of Cinematography and the Kyrgyztasmasy State Film Center had declined to issue the certification required for public screenings.

According to the filmmakers, officials cited an expert evaluation conducted by a departmental commission but did not provide any further explanation for the decision.

Without the certificate, the film cannot legally be shown in Kyrgyzstan, forcing organisers to cancel what was intended to be a celebratory homecoming screening following the project's successful international festival run.

Film explores gender violence and social issues

Directed by Erke Dzhumakmatova and the late Emil Atageldiev, Kurak is based on true events and examines gender-based violence and patriarchal structures in contemporary Kyrgyz society.

The drama intertwines several stories that focus on women confronting social pressures and systemic inequality.

The project was produced by Bishkek-based Studio Oymo and developed as an international co-production involving partners from Switzerland, Serbia, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Italy.

International acclaim contrasts with domestic ban

Despite being blocked in its home market, Kurak has enjoyed significant success on the international festival circuit.

The film has screened at 14 festivals worldwide and collected multiple honours, including the Vision of Jiseok Award and Bangladesh July Memorial Prize at the Busan International Film Festival.

It also secured the Grand Prix at the Dhaka International Film Festival and won the top prize along with two additional awards at the Vesoul International Film Festival of Asian Cinema in France.

The cancellation is particularly painful for the filmmakers because co-director Atageldiev died before witnessing the film's international recognition.

Filmmakers criticise censorship decision

Dzhumakmatova described the authorities' decision as deeply ironic given the themes explored in the film.

“Our film is about those who try to suppress the truth. The bitter irony is that denying it a distribution certificate only illustrates what the film is about,” she said.

“Kurak has already been seen by audiences across the world – and it will be seen in Kyrgyzstan, by whatever means necessary.”

Producer Pavel Feldman of Netherlands-based Human Films also criticised the ruling, calling it a serious mistake and pledging to find ways for local audiences to watch the film.

“The truth is easy to speak – and very hard to silence,” Feldman said. “We will do everything in our power to ensure that everyone in Kyrgyzstan who wants to see Kurak is able to.”

Calls grow for the film to be seen at home

French co-producer Johann Chapelan argued that the issues raised by the film extend beyond Kyrgyzstan and resonate globally.

“Kurak is not only a Kyrgyz story – it speaks to every society where women’s voices are silenced. That is precisely why it must be seen everywhere, especially at home,” he said.

The controversy has drawn renewed attention to artistic freedom and film censorship in the region, with the filmmakers continuing to seek answers over why the acclaimed drama was denied permission to screen.

Authorities had not publicly responded to the filmmakers' criticism at the time of publication.