Eurasia International Film Festival

Overview

The Eurasia International Film Festival is the only FIAPF-accredited film festival in Central Asia. The 17th edition ran November 24 to 30, 2024, in Almaty, Kazakhstan, gathering participants from over 15 countries across 3 continents. The festival is organized by the Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan, with the event entrusted to the Kazakhfilm National Film Studio named after Shaken Aimanov.

The festival features two competitive sections: an international competition for feature films from Europe and Asia, and a competition for films from Central Asia and the Turkic world. The 17th edition showcased 22 films across these two competitive sections. The grand opening ceremony was held at the Almaty Theatre.

For filmmakers, Eurasia IFF offers the only FIAPF-competitive platform in Central Asia. FIAPF accreditation means the festival is formally recognized by the International Federation of Film Producers Associations as a competitive festival specialized in films produced on the Eurasian continent. This status carries international recognition for competition wins.

The festival's industry platform includes masterclasses in producing, screenwriting, and cinematography, held at Turan University and the T. Zhurgenov Kazakh National Academy of Arts. The 2024 edition also featured the "Eurasia KZ" showcase for emerging Kazakh talent and a "World Panorama" section screening standout films from Cannes, Venice, and Berlin.

Submission Details

Submissions are made through the Eurasia IFF website or by contacting the festival directorate directly. The festival does not appear to use FilmFreeway.

Submission requirements (based on recent editions):

• Feature films must be produced in Europe or Asia
• Films must be completed within the eligibility period (typically the 12 to 18 months preceding the festival)
• Films must be at minimum Asia premieres (case-by-case exceptions may apply)
• Films must not have been released theatrically in Kazakhstan before the festival closes
• Films must not have been broadcast on television or made available on the internet or mobile platforms before the festival closes
• All films must be submitted in their original language
• If the original language is not English, the screener must be subtitled in English
• Work-in-progress submissions are accepted if clearly stated on the submission form
• Screener must be submitted as an online screener or DVD with English or Russian subtitles
• The official Festival Entry Form must be filled out and a DVD screener sent with subtitles in English or Russian

Submission deadline: Typically August 1 of the festival year (based on historical data). The selection committee completes selection by approximately September 1.

Notification: Official selection letters are typically sent before the end of August, with the official program announced in early September. Selected films must provide a subtitle cue sheet, synopsis, promotional materials, press materials, and catalogue submission materials.

The festival office address is: 176, Al-Farabi Ave., 050023 Almaty, Kazakhstan.

Key Sections

• International Competition - full-length feature films from Europe and Asia, competing for jury prizes. Typically 12 films in competition.
• Central Asia and Turkic World Competition - films from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and other Turkic nations
• World Panorama - exclusive selection of standout films from leading festivals such as Cannes, Venice, and Berlin
• Eurasia KZ - showcase for emerging Kazakh talent and fresh perspectives in Kazakhstan's cinematic landscape
• Retrospectives and Special Screenings - rare films seldom seen on the big screen, including Cinema Bridge: East (retrospective of Asian directors) and Cinema Bridge: West (retrospective of Western directors)
• Country Cinema Days - dedicated programs such as Kyrgyz Cinema Days, Russian Cinema Days, Korean Cinema Days
• Dynamic Kazakh Cinema - new Kazakh cinema showcase
• Short-Length Films Night - dedicated short film programming
• Industry Platform - masterclasses, round tables, and panel discussions at Turan University and the T. Zhurgenov Kazakh National Academy of Arts

What Filmmakers Should Know

Eurasia IFF is the only FIAPF-accredited festival in Central Asia. This accreditation means a competition win at Eurasia carries formal international recognition. For European and Asian filmmakers, the international competition provides a platform to reach Central Asian audiences and industry professionals who may not attend Western festivals.

The Central Asia and Turkic World competition is the festival's most distinctive section. It provides the only competitive platform dedicated specifically to Central Asian and Turkic cinema at a FIAPF-accredited festival. For filmmakers from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and the Yakutian film industry, this section offers regional recognition and networking with neighboring industry professionals.

The festival's submission process requires both an online form and a physical DVD screener sent to the Almaty office. This is a notable difference from festivals that accept only online screeners. Filmmakers should plan for shipping time and customs processing when sending materials to Kazakhstan.

The Asia premiere requirement means films that have already screened at other Asian festivals may face eligibility issues. However, the festival applies this rule on a case-by-case basis for films in its Official Program. Filmmakers should contact the festival directly if their film has had prior Asian screenings.

The festival's industry program, while smaller than major market festivals like Cannes or Berlin, provides focused networking opportunities with Central Asian producers, distributors, and the Kazakhfilm studio. The masterclasses at Turan University and the T. Zhurgenov Kazakh National Academy of Arts connect filmmakers with local film students and industry professionals.

Major Awards

The festival presents jury awards across its two competitive sections:

International Competition:

• Grand Prix - Best Film
• Special Jury Prize
• Best Director
• Additional jury awards as determined by the competition jury

Central Asia and Turkic World Competition:

• Best Film
• Special Jury Prize
• Additional awards as determined by the competition jury

The festival also presents audience awards and special recognition awards. The specific award categories and prize amounts may vary by edition.

Festival History

The Eurasia International Film Festival was established in 1998 and has grown into the largest film forum in Kazakhstan and Central Asia. The festival received FIAPF accreditation, making it the only festival in the region with this international recognition. FIAPF classifies Eurasia IFF as a competitive festival specialized in films produced on the Eurasian continent.

The festival is organized by the Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan, with the event entrusted to the Kazakhfilm National Film Studio named after Shaken Aimanov. The festival has been held at various venues across Almaty, including the Palace of Republic, the Almaty Theatre, and multiple cinema venues.

Kazakh cinema has a tradition rooted in the "Kazakh New Wave" of the late Soviet period, which produced directors including Rashid Nugmanov and Sergei Bodrov. The festival has celebrated this heritage through retrospectives such as "30 Years of the Kazakh New Wave" and special programs honoring Shaken Aimanov, the founder of Kazakhfilm Studios.

The festival has evolved its programming over the years. Recent editions have expanded beyond the core international competition to include the Central Asia and Turkic World competition, the World Panorama section bringing films from Cannes, Venice, and Berlin to Almaty audiences, and the Eurasia KZ showcase for emerging Kazakh talent. The 17th edition in 2024 featured participants from over 15 countries including Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Iran, Belarus, Azerbaijan, and Russia, with many films exploring themes of migration and identity.

See Also

To calculate the return on your festival submission spending, use the Festival ROI Calculator. To estimate your probability of acceptance based on festival tier and film characteristics, use the Festival Acceptance Odds Estimator. For Central Asian and Eurasian cinema, see International Film Markets. For festival strategy guidance, see Film Festival Strategy. For distribution deals, see Distribution Deals Explained.