Kanto wins best film at Korkut Ata festival as Tashkent becomes tourism capital

The 6th Korkut Ata Turkic World Film Festival concluded with a ceremony at Istanbul’s Atatürk Cultural Center. The Best Film Award went to “Kanto,” directed by Ensar Altay, while the title of Turkic World Tourism Capital passed from Ankara to Tashkent.

The 6th Korkut Ata Turkic World Film Festival, which brought 56 films from the Turkic world to audiences, concluded with an awards ceremony at Istanbul’s Atatürk Cultural Center. Türkiye’s Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy presented the Best Film Award to Ensar Altay, the director of “Kanto.”

In the feature fiction competition, the Best Director Award went to Zaur Gasımlı for “Tagiyev: The School.” Amina Salmanova won Best Actress for “Ferzana Goes West,” while Matyokub Matchonov won Best Actor for “Farz.” The Best Screenplay Award went to Nurzhigit Khaidarov for “Thirty-Eight: The Final Point.” The Jury’s Special Award was given to “Yusuf,” and the TÜRKSOY Special Award went to “The Beauty of Gürgenç Törebeg.”

Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy handed the title of Turkic World Tourism Capital to Abdulaziz Akkulov, chairman of Uzbekistan’s Tourism Committee

In the documentary category, “Isıyah: Summer Solstice” took first place, “Thirst for Life” second and “Undying Fire” third. In the short film competition, “The Guide” took first place, “Grandmother” second and “Sun Child Yusuf” third. The festival also announced that four new cinema projects would receive support.

At the ceremony, the title of Turkic World Tourism Capital passed from Ankara, which held it in 2026, to Uzbekistan’s capital Tashkent for 2027. Minister Ersoy said that 53 events had been held throughout the year in Ankara and at Türkiye’s overseas missions as part of the city’s tenure as tourism capital, adding that Türkiye would support Tashkent’s 2027 program.