The international film festival “Eurasia” has begun in Almaty, bringing together representatives of the film industry from fifteen countries, TASS reports.

“I believe that today’s festival will open up new ideas and projects and give new impetus to the development of the film industry,” said President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in a welcoming letter to festival participants.

The Minister of Culture Aida Balaeva introduced the president’s message to the event participants.

The festival program, scheduled until the end of November, is represented by two key areas. Within the framework of the international competition, viewers will see twelve films, and a special section dedicated to the cinema of Central Asia and the Turkic world will present nine films.

The artistic level of the event is emphasized by the composition of the jury: the international competition was headed by the famous Turkish director Nuri Bilge Ceylan, winner of the highest award at the Cannes Film Festival. The works in the section of Central Asia and the Turkic World will be judged by the famous Chinese cinematographer Li Baohua, a recognized expert in the field of cultural heritage.

All competitive screenings will take place from November 25 to 29 at the "Esentai" film park.