The CAF Pitch platform, held as part of the Bishkek International Film Festival (11-15 June), has once again reaffirmed its role as a catalyst for emerging cinematic voices in Central Asia. The industry-focused event showcased ten promising film projects hailing from Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan.

Designed to bolster regional filmmaking and encourage international collaboration, CAF Pitch awarded three prizes, including a main grant of $4,000 (300,000 KGS, or €3,475) and a $3,500 (€3,000) special award sponsored by the Red Sea Fund. A curated jury of international producers and industry experts selected the winners following an intensive programme of project pitches, discussions and networking sessions.

The main prize went to Asyrandy, directed by Sezim Adyranova and produced by Maksat Lesbekov (Kyrgyzstan), whose synopsis reads: “In 1968, a village couple has a long-awaited son. To protect him, they traditionally sell him to another family and buy him back as a girl. One of his five sisters discovers the secret and questions the whole situation.” The jury praised the film for its “singular and strong story, allowing for the exploration of the challenges of gender issues through a Kyrgyz family stuck in a deep secret that eventually erupts”.

The Red Sea Fund Special Award was handed to Memory Road by director Laura Mukhieva and producer Marzhan Bekmaganbetova (Kazakhstan), in which an elderly woman with dementia sets out to find her long-lost daughter before her memories fade forever. But when her path unexpectedly crosses that of a young con artist hiding her own trauma, the two embark on a journey that will change them both. The jury lauded the project’s “intriguing journey of two very different women on their search for forgiveness”, highlighting the young director’s universal approach and warmth.

A Special Mention was awarded to Mahabat by Kyrgyz director Tynystan Temirzhan and producer Suium Sulaimanova, a road movie about the titular woman, who breaks free from familial obligations and embarks on a personal odyssey from Bishkek to Osh. The jury commended the project for its quiet strength and emotional resonance.

The CAF Pitch jury was chaired by Gabrielle Beroff-Gallard, head of La Fabrique Cinéma at the Institut français, and included Charles Meresse (Furyo Films, France), Od Howell (Nipkow Program, Germany), D Bat-Oyun (Ori Studios, Mongolia), Flaminio Zadra (Palosanto Films, Italy), Oliver Damian (27 Films Production, Germany) and Mohammad Jastaniah (Red Sea Fund, Saudi Arabia).

With its third edition, CAF Pitch has proven its international ambition for project development and co-production within the region. By fostering cross-border exchange and mentorship, the platform is quickly becoming a reference point for the next generation of Central Asian storytellers who aim to collaborate with the rest of the world, particularly European producers.

Here is the full list of winners:

Main Prize
Asyrandy - Sezim Adyranova (Kyrgyzstan)
Producer: Maksat Lesbekov

Red Sea Fund Special Award
Memory Road - Laura Mukhieva (Kazakhstan)
Producer: Marzhan Bekmaganbetova

Special Mention
Mahabat - Tynystan Temirzhan (Kyrgyzstan)
Producer: Suium Sulaimanova