11TH TURKIC WORLD DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL CONCLUDES IN ANKARA WITH GALA AND AWARD CEREMONY
Awards found their owners at the 11th Turkic World Documentary Film Festival, which brought together documentary filmmakers from different countries across the Turkic world in Ankara on October 7–9, 2026. At the gala and award ceremony hosted by Kechioren Municipality, winning productions and directors were honored across Feature-Length, Short Film, Student Film, and Artificial Intelligence categories.
At the ceremony held at the Kechioren Municipality Yunus Emre Cultural Center under the leadership of the Turkic World Journalists Federation (TDGF), the successful documentary films of 2026 received their awards.
Organized with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Türkiye General Directorate of Cinema, the Union of Turkic World Municipalities, TURKSOY, TİKA, and YTB, in partnership with universities, professional associations, non-governmental organizations, and media umbrella organizations, the festival brought together filmmakers from various regions of the Turkic world.
Young Talents from Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University Stand Out in Student Films
The film The Journey, directed by Kulpunay Baktibek kyzy a 2026 graduate of the Department of Radio, TV, and Cinema at the Faculty of Communication, Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University received the Student Jury Best Film Award.
Meanwhile, the film The Old Man and Art , signed by Sabina Kydyrova also a 2026 graduate of the Department of Radio, TV, and Cinema at the Faculty of Communication, Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University won the TURKSOY Culture and Art Award.
Screenings Were Held at Hacı Bayram Veli University
Film screenings within the scope of the festival took place on October 8–9 at the Faculty of Communication, Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli University. Bringing together participants from seven different countries of the Turkic world, the events provided young filmmakers with the opportunity to introduce their works, discover different cinema cultures, and share their experiences.
Additionally, the Turkic World Young Filmmakers Gathering, workshops, panels, and talks were held as part of the festival.
The program, attended by young filmmakers from Turkic republics, autonomous Turkic republics, and various Turkic communities, addressed film projects, filmmaking experiences, and the cinema cultures of participating countries.
In the Artificial Intelligence category of the Turkic World Documentary Film Festival, Regina Dzhamankulova, a faculty member at the Department of Radio, TV, and Cinema at the Faculty of Communication, Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University, served as a Main Jury Member.
A presentation on "Cinema Education in Kyrgyzstan and State Supports Provided to Young Filmmakers" was delivered by Stambulbek Mambetaliyev, a lecturer at the Department of Radio, TV, and Cinema at the Faculty of Communication, Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University.
The three-day program aimed to enable young filmmakers to meet colleagues from different countries, share experiences, and build a networking platform through which they can develop joint film projects in the future.
The program also features workshops, panels, interviews/talks, film screenings, cultural tours, and student meetings.
