Tokon Daiyrbekov

The small northern indigenous people, the Nivkhs, live on the shores of the Sea of Okhotsk. Every day, they face a harsh struggle for survival, while their lives are filled with everyday routines, customs, hunting, celebrations, death, and birth. Against this backdrop unfolds the story of a ten-year-old boy who, together with his grandfather, father, and uncle, goes on his first seal-hunting expedition. However, misfortune awaits the hunters as a fog descends over the sea, obscuring their view of the shore.

Sagyn returned to his homeland, got a job, fell in love, and received this advice from his family: “The most important thing is to stay on good terms with Almaz. Those who have a good relationship with him will thrive. But if he gets offended, you’d better run. He’s used to everyone respecting him and always agreeing with him. If he asks for something, don’t even think about refusing.” And then one day, Sagyn witnesses a crime...

"Mirages of Love" is a Soviet-Syrian film directed by Tolomush Okeyev about the fate of Mani, a medieval oriental master.

At the center of the film is the character of Asan, a collective farm foreman. Asan is a principled man who makes many enemies among the lazy, drunkards, and dishonest people. As a result of these rumors, Asan is dismissed from his position, but this does not break him. He continues to act according to his conscience.

The Russian Descendant of the Snow Leopard is based on a famous Kirghizian folktale. Apparently the Kirghizian folks had plenty of time to tell this story: to print a full synopsis would result in a novelette. Essentially, the story involves a proud group of highland hunters called the Snow Leopards, who in order to survive a brutal winter must request help from the Lowland people. The price for this assistance is the hand of the Snow Leopard's daughter, who is promised in marriage to a wealthy Lowland trader. During the Springtime wedding celebration, the trader becomes fascinated by a stranger who wins all the athletic contests. This "male" contestant turns out to be a woman, who has arrived to seek freedom for her imprisoned husband. The subsequent romance between the trader and the beautiful stranger results in disaster and bloodshed for both the Snow Leopards and the Lowlanders.

Two elderly women from a remote mountain village must climb the stairs of a tall apartment building to visit a relative. As they make their way up, pausing to rest and talking about life, memories, and moments from the past, the stairwell becomes a space where stories, encounters, and quiet reflections unfold.

After a serious conflict with the editor of a local newspaper, journalist Temir Ataev began working as a teacher at a boarding school for children of shepherds. The first difficulties did not frighten Temir. Captivated by his new work, Ataev was able to win over the children, who were mostly from disadvantaged families, and restore order in the teaching staff.

The boy Nurdin spent his summer holidays in the mountains with his grandfather, a herdsman. He learned to ride a horse, took part in horse races, showed courage by going with local children to a cave to get mumiyo to cure a sick comrade.

Samat is an orphan, and he strikes up a friendship with Musa, who is wheelchair bound due to illness. Little does he know Musa has ties to the criminal world.