4th International Nomad Festival Celebrates Storytelling, Theatre, and Community in Naryn
The 4th International Nomad Festival transformed the mountain town of Naryn into a vibrant hub of creativity, dialogue, and performance, welcoming nearly 500 guests to its opening night. Born at the University of Central Asia (UCA), the Festival bridges the region’s longstanding agrarian and pastoral traditions with contemporary global artistic expression, guided by the belief that stories, like the nomads before us, know no borders.
This year’s Festival coincided with the 25th anniversary of UCA, reaffirming its mission to enhance the quality of life in mountain communities through knowledge exchange, creativity, and cultural celebration.
A Festival Rooted in Community
Over three days, Festival activities unfolded across UCA’s Campus, the banks of the Naryn River, the Naryn Regional Academic Musical Drama Theatre named after Muratbek Ryskulov, and Naryn’s historic Univer Cinema. By holding the opening, awards, and screenings in town, the Festival highlighted the importance of decades-old cultural venues that remain central to the life of the community.
Almost 500 students, institutions, and members of the public gathered at the opening ceremony to enjoy the screening of Black Red Yellow by Kyrgyz cinema legend Aktan Arym Kubat, a moving reflection on love, responsibility, and human connection.
The programme also featured two exquisite theatre performances that became highlights of the Festival:
- Tamyr (The Root) — a striking performance embodying nature’s memory, conflict, and renewal.
- KYZ — a powerful production blending Kyrgyz puppetry and Japanese Kabuki, staged at the Naryn Regional Academic Musical Drama Theatre.
Screenings at the Univer Cinema featured a majority of regional films and were open to the public, making the Festival accessible and engaging for the wider community.
Voices of Support
In her opening remarks, Aidana Imanalieva, Deputy Governor of Naryn Oblast, reflected on the enduring spirit of cinema:
“Cinema allows us to remember the spirit of our ancestors while also giving voice to the modern world. It is an inexhaustible movement of art, an endless journey, a golden relay passing the path of the nomad into the present. A key part of the University of Central Asia’s mission is to pass on the priceless heritage of our ancestors—indelible examples of spiritual and material culture—as a golden legacy to future generations.”
Dr Diana Pauna, Dean of UCA’s School of Arts and Sciences, underscored the Festival’s unique role for mountain communities:
“Nomad is the only festival in the region created by and for mountain communities. For Naryn, a town often far from cultural centres, it opens a window to the world, affirming our culture, inspiring our youth, and strengthening community bonds.”
At the awards night, Jodar Saidilkanov, Company Owner at Novotel Bishkek and Festival supporter, shared his reflections on the festival’s growing significance:
“This festival shows us how creativity can build bridges, destroy stereotypes, inspire critical thinking, and connect cultures across Central Asia and beyond. It is clear that Naryn and Kyrgyzstan are becoming the destination for the global, cultural and creative community. As Kyrgyz, we have a saying — the road to the world will start in a village. And I sincerely believe that the road to the Hollywood, Cannes, Berlin film festivals will start from Naryn.”
Also attending the awards ceremony was Süyünbek Emilbek uulu, Chief Specialist of the Social Development Department of the Naryn Regional Government Office, highlighting the Festival’s strong support from local authorities.
Festival Co-Chair Dr Soheil Ashrafi, Programme Director of Communications and Media at UCA’s School of Arts and Sciences, reflected:
“Nomad Festival serves as a university and community platform for knowledge exchange and creative expression. In its 4th edition, it continued to bridge the gap between generations of storytellers, centre and periphery, and traditional and emerging art forms.”
Nomad 2025 Award Winners
International Films
- Best Fiction ($500): Chap Dast, dir. Nasrin Mohammadpour, Iran
- Best Documentary ($300): A Long Letter to Love, dir. Nika Krikun, Ukraine
- Jury Mention ($200): Provided, dir. Soheil Rahimi, Iran
Regional Films
- Best Fiction ($500): The Late Wind, dir. Shugyla Serzhan, Kazakhstan
- Best Documentary ($300): We Are (At) Home, dir. Shakhzoda Mirakova & Darya Gusmanova, Uzbekistan
- Jury Mention ($200): Rock Berkut, dir. Tamerlan Almanov, Kazakhstan
Student Films
- Best Student Film ($500): The Gold Fish, dir. Aizhamal Mirbek kyzy, Kyrgyzstan
- Best Student Doc ($300): Alone in a Dance for Two, dir. Mehrangez Saidmamadova, Tajikistan
- Promising Artist ($200): Mother, dir. Bayaman Asanaliev, Kyrgyzstan
Audience Award
- Roza Eje, dir. Faridun Karabozov & Erik Stybaev, Kyrgyzstan
Looking Ahead
The 4th International Nomad Festival reaffirmed its place as the only international festival in Central Asia created by and for mountain communities. By blending screenings, theatre, music, and dialogue across multiple venues in Naryn, the Festival showcased the resilience and creativity of the region while welcoming new voices and perspectives from around the world.
