XIII Forum of the young cinema Umut-2026: Second part of the National competition 

♦   «The Red Thread»/«Кызыл жип» by Asel Junusova, Kyrgyzstan, 2025, 15'09, KTU Manas 

Synopsis.

From childhood, the elder sister Cholpon learned to be strong: keeping her hair impeccably styled, excelling at school, controlling everything at work, at home, and in daily life—and, above all, caring for her younger sister Jyldyz. Nurturing became her second nature. Even when her eyesight deteriorates sharply and she urgently needs surgery, she tells no one; in her mind, asking for help would mean admitting weakness.

♦ «In Reality»/«Өңүмдө» by Jannat Nasirova, Kyrgyzstan, 2025, 7'30, KTU Manas

Synopsis.

For Rabiga, sleep is not a refuge - it’s a trial. Each night, she plunges into a chasm of nightmares, where the line between reality and illusion blurs like shadows in half-light. Her sleepless torment isn’t just born of fear. It’s rooted in an old wound - buried deep, yet still painfully alive. She knows where the darkness in her mind begins, but she clings to the past as if it were the last trace of something - or someone - that mattered. But soon, everything will change.

♦ «Wall»/«Стена» by Nurperi Nurgazy kyzy, Kyrgyzstan, 2026, 08’24

Synopsis. 

A young housekeeper, Begimai, is used to being invisible in other people’s homes. She methodically cleans an empty house, ignoring footsteps behind her and shadows flickering in the mirrors. Unaware that the house is slowly consuming her, Begimai fails to notice when her own portrait appears on the wall among those of the disappeared.

♦ «Obonchu»/«Обончу» by Daniyar Abirov, Kyrgyzstan, 2025, 22'22

Synopsis.

Young Aynazik was once an unwanted child and was raised by her grandfather, whom she calls her father. She doesn't know how to read music, but she has a gift for composing. A wealthy local man helps her pursue a career as a composer, but she must eventually uncover the truth about her parents — the ones who gave her up.

♦ «Chao, mama!»/«Чао, мама» by Diana Subogatulina, Kyrgyzstan, 2025, 3’24

Synopsis.

Following a fight with her daughter, the mother becomes overwrought, worried about her daughter, who has gone out for a walk. She imagines terrifying events that will happen to her daughter and begins to delve deeper, drowning in her nightmares. After confronting her inner demons face-to-face, the mother realizes that this characteristic can be used in a safe way. She learns to sublimate her anxiety into art and embraces herself as an artist.

♦ «The Darkness»/«Тьма»  by Karina Choyubekova, Kyrgyzstan, 2024, 3'27, animation

Synopsis.

A girl named Anna wakes up in complete darkness, with nothing but a lamp in her hands. Searching for something unknown, she wanders along the bottom of an abyss where not a single ray of light can reach, encountering monsters along the way. At first, she is frightened, but soon she realizes they are not her enemies. It turns out they were once human, and Anna restores their memories — until it becomes impossible when the light goes out…

♦ «Demon of the Mount Kaigy»/«Демон на горе Кайгы» by Viola Mustafina, Kyrgyzstan, 2025, 14', animation 

Synopsis.

One day, Asan's father leaves his family. His son convinces himself that he had gone to overthrow the demon living on the mountain, so he decides to go look after him, along with his pet goat. But the higher he climbs, the more dangerous the road becomes.