Alternativa Film Awards 2023

The first-ever Alternativa Film Awards was held in Almaty, Kazakhstan. The winning films from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Nepal explored pressing social issues such as women's rights, the generational divide, and grassroots political activism.

HOW IT WAS

  • 350 submissions from 25 Asian countries

  • 14 feature-length and 7 short films in the shortlist

  • 3 public talks at Industry Days

Winners 2023

  • BRIDE KIDNAPPING / KYZ ALA KACHUU

    Director: Mirlan Abdykalykov • Kyrgyzstan · 2023 · 1h 20m · Drama

    Umut, 19 years old, lives with her mother in the city suburbs and works as a nurse in a hospital. She becomes a randomly selected victim of «bride kidnapping». The film is based on numerous true stories of girls and women who became victims of «bride kidnapping» in Kyrgyzstan. Hiding behind an ancient tradition, which has been greatly distorted in modern times, men abduct women and force them into marriage.

  • Bauryna Salu

    Director: Askhat Kuchinchirekov • Kazakhstan · 2023 · 1h 53m · Drama

    Following an old Kazakh tradition called «bauryna salu», Yersultan was given to his grandmother at birth, so she could raise him. He grew up with resentment and a sense of disconnection from his parents. When he turned 12, his grandmother passed away, and he had to move back in with the family he barely knows. Yersultan's coming-of-age process coincides with an overwhelming transformation and an attempt to restore his relationship with his parents, especially his father.

  • Streets Loud with Echoes / QORYQPA

    Director: Katerina Suvorova • Kazakhstan · 2023 · 1h 35 min · Documentary

    In the heart of the biggest city in Kazakhstan, amid a summer day, a cruel and tragic event unfolds that unexpectedly forges a bond among the locals. A young documentary filmmaker captures the ongoing events to understand how people respond to the shared pain. The author identifies two of her peers within the emerging civil movement – an empathetic, courageous journalist and a determined political scientist. Observing them, she witnesses how society reclaims its right to speak out.

  • No Winter Holidays

    Directors: Rajan Kathet, Sunir Pandey • Nepal · 2024 · 1h 19m · Documentary

    Ratima and Kalima were once married to the same man. Now they must forget the past and keep each other alive as they take care of an empty, snowbound village.

NOMINEES 2023

  • BRIDE KIDNAPPING / KYZ ALA KACHUU

    Director: Mirlan Abdykalykov • Kyrgyzstan · 2023 · 1h 20m · Drama

    Umut, 19 years old, lives with her mother in the city suburbs and works as a nurse in a hospital. She becomes a randomly selected victim of «bride kidnapping». The film is based on numerous true stories of girls and women who became victims of «bride kidnapping» in Kyrgyzstan. Hiding behind an ancient tradition, which has been greatly distorted in modern times, men abduct women and force them into marriage.

  • Bauryna Salu

    Director: Askhat Kuchinchirekov • Kazakhstan · 2023 · 1h 53m · Drama

    Following an old Kazakh tradition called «bauryna salu», Yersultan was given to his grandmother at birth, so she could raise him. He grew up with resentment and a sense of disconnection from his parents. When he turned 12, his grandmother passed away, and he had to move back in with the family he barely knows. Yersultan's coming-of-age process coincides with an overwhelming transformation and an attempt to restore his relationship with his parents, especially his father.

  • Streets Loud with Echoes / QORYQPA

    Director: Katerina Suvorova • Kazakhstan · 2023 · 1h 35 min · Documentary

    In the heart of the biggest city in Kazakhstan, amid a summer day, a cruel and tragic event unfolds that unexpectedly forges a bond among the locals. A young documentary filmmaker captures the ongoing events to understand how people respond to the shared pain. The author identifies two of her peers within the emerging civil movement – an empathetic, courageous journalist and a determined political scientist. Observing them, she witnesses how society reclaims its right to speak out.

  • No Winter Holidays

    Directors: Rajan Kathet, Sunir Pandey • Nepal · 2024 · 1h 19m · Documentary

    Ratima and Kalima were once married to the same man. Now they must forget the past and keep each other alive as they take care of an empty, snowbound village.

JURY 2023

  • Brillante Mendoza

    Brillante Mendoza

    Philippines
  • Prasanna Vithanage

    Prasanna Vithanage

    Sri Lanka
  • Gita Saedi Kiely

    Gita Saedi Kiely

    USA
  • Rintu Thomas

    Rintu Thomas

    India
  • Ana Chubinidze

    Ana Chubinidze

    Georgia
  • Vyacheslav Abramov

    Vyacheslav Abramov

    Kazakhstan
  • Ruslan Akun

    Ruslan Akun

    Kyrgyzstan
  • Bayan Alaguzova

    Bayan Alaguzova

    Kazakhstan
Brillante Mendoza
Brillante Mendoza
Prasanna Vithanage
Prasanna Vithanage
Gita Saedi Kiely
Gita Saedi Kiely
Rintu Thomas
Rintu Thomas
Ana Chubinidze
Ana Chubinidze
Vyacheslav Abramov
Vyacheslav Abramov
Ruslan Akun
Ruslan Akun
Bayan Alaguzova
Bayan Alaguzova

SELECTION COMMITTEE

  • Gulnara Abikeyeva

    Gulnara Abikeyeva

    Kazakhstan
  • Sharofat Arabova

    Sharofat Arabova

    Tajikistan
  • Aleksei Artamonov

    Aleksei Artamonov

    Uzbekistan
  • Rahat Asangulova

    Rahat Asangulova

    Kyrgyzstan
  • Birgit Beumers

    Birgit Beumers

    United Kingdom
  • Philip Cheah

    Philip Cheah

    Indonesia
  • Irina Engelis

    Irina Engelis

    Russia
  • Sona Karapoghosyan

    Sona Karapoghosyan

    Armenia
  • Safar Hakdodov

    Safar Hakdodov

    Tajikistan
  • Valeriya Kim

    Valeriya Kim

    uzbekistan
  • Kim Young-woo

    Kim Young-woo

    South Korea
  • Olga Malysheva

    Olga Malysheva

    Kazakhstan
  • Madi Mambetov

    Madi Mambetov

    Kazakhstan
  • Zarina Mukanova

    Zarina Mukanova

    Kazakhstan
  • Amir Musaev

    Amir Musaev

    Kazakhstan
  • Alexandra Porshneva

    Alexandra Porshneva

    Russia
  • Aleksei Rumyantsev

    Aleksei Rumyantsev

    Tajikistan
  • Dante Rustav

    Dante Rustav

    uzbekistan
  • Swetlana Slapke

    Swetlana Slapke

    Germany
  • Gulbara Tolomushova

    Gulbara Tolomushova

    Kyrgyzstan
  • Sultan Usuvaliev

    Sultan Usuvaliev

    Kyrgyzstan
  • Yerzhan Zhumabekov

    Yerzhan Zhumabekov

    Kazakhstan
  • Asel Zhuraeva

    Asel Zhuraeva

    Kyrgyzstan
Gulnara Abikeyeva
Gulnara Abikeyeva
Sharofat Arabova
Sharofat Arabova
Aleksei Artamonov
Aleksei Artamonov
Rahat Asangulova
Rahat Asangulova
Birgit Beumers
Birgit Beumers
Philip Cheah
Philip Cheah
Irina Engelis
Irina Engelis
Sona Karapoghosyan
Sona Karapoghosyan
Safar Hakdodov
Safar Hakdodov
Valeriya Kim
Valeriya Kim
Kim Young-woo
Kim Young-woo
Olga Malysheva
Olga Malysheva
Madi Mambetov
Madi Mambetov
Zarina Mukanova
Zarina Mukanova
Amir Musaev
Amir Musaev
Alexandra Porshneva
Alexandra Porshneva
Aleksei Rumyantsev
Aleksei Rumyantsev
Dante Rustav
Dante Rustav
Swetlana Slapke
Swetlana Slapke
Gulbara Tolomushova
Gulbara Tolomushova
Sultan Usuvaliev
Sultan Usuvaliev
Yerzhan Zhumabekov
Yerzhan Zhumabekov
Asel Zhuraeva
Asel Zhuraeva

Alternativa Film screenings

Free public events that showcase nominees and winners of the Alternativa Film Festival, blending screenings with impact discussions and online features to raise awareness, spark dialogue, and drive social change.

Go to screenings page