Tales from the Road | Exploring Kyrgyzstan & Uzbekistan (2025)

We're Going the Same Way

At the non-places of this world lie the struggles of nobodies, to improve, overcome and survive. Their struggles suffocate them, they forget to live. They dislocate them, bring them together and pull them apart. Father and son share simple dreams and a lifetime on the road. Along an unromantic Silk Route they try to make some come true. Searching for a more livable future they break apart. As working class heroes they accept their fate. The film examines the added value of honesty in our actions.

I Lit the Fire!

The plot of the movie brings two people together - an immigrant filmmaker from Belarus and a 10 years old girl from the village in the south of Kyrgyzstan.

Wings of Kyrgyzstan

As „wings of men“ they became the faithful companion of a great nomadic nation thousands of years ago. Today, 28 years after the Soviet occupation, the little horse is an essential part of the cultural heritage and the search for identity of the modern Kyrgyz people. Based on its own story, a so called „good brown horse“ leads through the film and offers an insight of what it could mean to be „todays wings of men“. Told by a horse’s voice and through its eyes, this short film still is a documentary, but also a poetic journey to a nomadic culture.

Abu Raykhan Biruni

A biographical film about one of the greatest Medieval scientists and scholars, Al-Biruni.

The Road From Karakol

In the summer of 2011, mountaineer Kyle Dempster traveled the back roads of Kyrgyzstan on his bike. His goal: cross the country using old Soviet roads while climbing as many of the region's impressive peaks as possible. He was alone. He carried only a minimal ration of climbing gear. Ten Kyrgyz words complete its vocabulary. Part meditation on the true spirit of adventure and part epic travelogue, The Road from Karakol is the story of a unique spirit who cycled to the end of the road and decided to keep going.

Kirgistan - Hochgebirgsland voller Schätze

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The Amazing Country of Kyrgyzstan

You will discover a mysterious world where monuments of the great civilizations of the past intertwined with the corners of unspoiled nature, you will conquer the highest peaks and fantastic caves, you will dive into the refreshing coolness of emerald lakes and living fairy tale medieval east. The roar of wind and the murmur of flowing mountain streams complement the playing of the Kyrgyz music, taking you in the wonderful world - Kyrgyzstan. Travel Documentary hosted by Vitaliy Podstrechniy and Yulia Podstrechnaya

Berlin - Akkurgan

The plot of the film tells about the events of the war era, where the stories of ordinary people are intertwined. The characters were Stalin, Hitler, Churchill, Hess, Ribbentrop, Molotov and Uzbek heroes. The film shows the role of government leaders in the country's domestic and foreign policy, and how their decisions affected the fate of ordinary people.

The Song of the Tree

Esen, a young man who has been expelled from his village, escapes with the daughter of one of the most powerful men in the village. Whilst being pursued, he is forced to fight for her hand in a battle that results in the destruction of a sacred totem tree. This puts the whole village in jeopardy, and it is up to Esen to redeem himself and save them all.

In Love

A subtle lyrical story about youth, the search for truth, the first painful experiences of love. The film features three heroes who live in Tashkent. Rodin — a kind and whole man — finds it difficult to live with a girl who doesn't love him, and he himself saves her from the need to lie and suffer... Rustam's life is different. He is loving, talented... The third hero Thassos — a Greek by birth — returns to his homeland, where his mother and sister were found, but there flashed a junta of "grey colonels"...

Dogs of Bishkek

The story is about a boy named Sasha who, on a journey to get his sick mother sausages, get stalked and chased by the ruthless monster dog of Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan during a cold, foggy winter day. Will Sasha survive and make his way back to his apartment?

Dzhura

The end of the 1920s — the beginning of the 1930s in Kyrgyzstan. Parts of the Red Army are waging an uncompromising struggle with basmachi in Central Asia. The film tells about the formation of the character of the young Kyrgyz hunter Djura, who found himself in a swirling whirlpool of revolutionary events that swept the Pamirs. It shows the hard way from a simple young hunter, entangled in centuries of prejudice, to a conscious, seasoned in many battles with the Basmachi mature fighter, who believed in the great ideas of the revolution.

Tenderness

This is a story about modern youth, about how young people enters the great beautiful world of complex human relations, how, when faced with different people and phenomena, boys and girls are convinced that good and bright are affirmed in life.

To the Ends of the Earth

A young Japanese woman named Yoko finds her cautious and insular nature tested when she travels to Uzbekistan to shoot the latest episode of her travel variety show.

Wedding Campaign

A 38-year-old single man, Hong Man-Taek is a petty farmer still living with his mother. Seeing a neighbor married to an Uzbekistan bride and frightened by the fact that his own grandson will never get married, Man-Taek's grandfather decides to send Man-tek to Uzbekistan to find a bride.

Women's Paradise

In Women’s Paradise, a college professor and writer is separated from his wife after committing adultery and discovers a women’s paradise where his lover, a female student, and his wife are living happily together. Could this truly be paradise or just the projection of a male fantasy?

How to Marry Gu Jun-pyo?

K-drama-obsessed student Aliya is in love with the Korean actor Lee Min-ho, whom she often refers to as Gu Jun-pyo (his most popular K-drama character). Her nemesis, Aizhan, challenges her to fly to South Korea and even marry him before the end of the semester, or Aliya will have to drop out of the university. However, a cute emo boy stands in her way...

Dzhamilya

In a remote Kyrgyz village, Dzhamilya follows her parents' orders when she marries a man without loving him. Then World War II breaks out and her new husband has to leave the village. While being alone, Dzhamiliya meets the returning soldier Daniyar and falls in love with him instead. Years later, their young friend Seid reminisces about the couple.

101 Flight

In the early morning of September 11, 2001, a Boeing 757 aircraft belonging to Uzbekistan Airways takes off from the Uzbek capital Tashkent. This is the final flight of experienced pilot Zarif Saidazimov prior to retirement. 101-Flight is in transit through London Birmingham International Airport to John F Kennedy International Airport in New York.

Kurak

Based on true events, several stories about disempowerment of women, are closely intertwined, affecting to each other's, unfolding against the background of the traditional, patriarchal society of modern-day Kyrgyzstan ultimately result in a series of tragic outcomes. The realities of modern-day Kyrgyzstan, despite the status of a "secular state", are violence, hypocrisy, and widespread infringement of the rights of women who are stay a socially unprotected part of the population. Under the conditions of aggressive propaganda of both patriarchal and radical, religious ideology, the ideas of feminism in Kyrgyzstan are equated with the popularization of LGBTQ communities, are openly criticized and the justice system, in most cases, takes the side of murderers and rapists.

Centaur

Centaur lives a modest life with his family in rural Kyrgyzstan until he abruptly becomes the center of attention when he is caught stealing a racehorse at night. A story inspired by the myth when horses became the wings of men.

The Seventh Bullet

Despite the restoration of Soviet power in the area, Basmachis continue to arrive from across the border, bringing death and destruction to peaceful villages. One of the bands of rebels is led by Khairulla who is pitted against the militsiya (local militia) leader Maxumov. At first it seems hopeless for Maxumov as the rebels capture most of his men, winning them over to his side. He has only one strategy left; to give himself up, and try to explain to the people that Khairulla has deceived them, turning the soldiers back to revolution. Later in pursuit of his enemy, he chases Khairulla across a river. He has only one bullet left -- the seventh, and he must not miss his target!

Tashkent, City of Bread

Beautifully shot in black and white, and scripted by Tarkovsky's collaborator Andrei Konchalovsky, this powerful melodrama tells the story of a young boy who undertakes the perilous journey to Uzbekistan's capital Tashkent, to earn some money for his hungry family. Filming in the periphery of the Soviet Union, in a time of relative political relaxation, director Shukhrat Abbasov actually dared to depict the poverty and famine that resulted from the Bolshevik Revolution.

Sanzhyra

Lyrical tragicomedy. The eyes of the young hero, who will go through the rite of circumcision, shows the life of a Kyrgyz village on a holiday day.

Isaac Babel. The Fatal Triangle

When the collection of short stories by I.E.Babel "Konarmiya" was published, S.M. Budyonny became one of its first readers. The "horse army" infuriated him. Budyonny called the essays slanderous speculation and threatened to personally hack Babel with a saber. Defending the writer, Gorky wrote: "He showed the fighters of the First Cavalry better, more truthfully than Gogol — Zaporozhtsev." The writer was saved that time. But on May 16, 1939, no one could help Babel anymore. The writer was arrested. He ended up in the most terrible NKVD prison, Sukhanovskaya. Few people managed to get out alive.…

Hollywood Bulldogs: The Rise and Falls of the Great British Stuntman

They created and performed the iconic action sequences of 007, Indiana Jones, Superman, Rambo, Star Wars, Conan, the Alien films and pretty much everything since. They crashed cars, jumped from burning buildings, shot, stabbed, kicked and punched their way into cinema history. This is the first feature documentary to unite the legendary community of stuntmen in telling their story and, as you'll see, there's life in the old dogs yet.

Sonic 30th Anniversary Symphony

30 years ago, on June 23rd, 1991, Sonic the Hedgehog was released on the SEGA Genesis, beginning a new era of gaming. Since then, Sonic has been running through countless zones, beating badniks, and saving the world with the help of his friends. This performance is to thank you, all of you, for being there every step of the way, and to remind us all of the amazing journey we've been on. Happy 30th Anniversary, Sonic!

Alice

A documentary about deconstructing what seems complex to create something simple, something meaningful. The documentary introduces Alice, who co-wrote the script with the director. A surfer, skateboarder, artist and transgender woman born in Maceió, in the Northeast of Brazil, Alice builds her identity and finds ways to exist in a society still marked by prejudice and violence.

The Secret Wars of the Big Sport

The authors selected four of the most popular sports in Russia. And their brightest "stars" who survived the "conflicts of the century." Biathlete Alexander Tikhonov, football player Pavel Sadyrin, hockey player Alexander Mogilny, chess player Viktor Korchnoi. They confronted, each at his own time, rivals, outdated rules, and even the political system...

Borrowed Time: Lennon's Last Decade

A visionary new documentary exploring the final decade of John Lennon's life in extraordinary detail. Follow the legend as he evolves beyond The Beatles, creating revolutionary music and standing at the forefront of anti-war protests that would make him one of the most influential pop culture icons of all time.

This Is My Body

Jérôme was sexually abused as a child by a priest. In a deeply personal film, he tries to search for clues in his memories and come to terms with the complicity of his former social environment.

Ali Eats America

17-year-old Ali Allouche, who is battling cancer, binges on food shows during his chemo treatments. Inspired by Anthony Bourdain’s "Parts Unknown," Ali plots a cross-country adventure to visit innovative chefs and immerse himself in America’s rich food culture.

The House of Clemens

Toby Hadoke visits Brian Clemens widow and sons to discusses his life and career.

Apollo 1: Destination Moon

At the height of the space race, three U.S. astronauts are tapped as the first Apollo crew. With dazzling archival footage and exceptional access, this riveting documentary explores the tragic events that followed, shaking NASA to the core.

The Nest

When her mother decides to sell their house, decolonial writer Julietta Singh returns to her childhood home on the Assiniboine River to say goodbye. As Singh listens to the stories embedded in its walls, the house reveals 140 years of overlooked histories—Japanese, Deaf, Métis, Indigenous, and Irish women whose lives, like Singh’s, were shaped by resistance and care. In this genre-defying, cross-community film, the home becomes more than a personal archive, transforming into a site of radical feminist possibility.

Bob Marley & The Wailers: The Capitol Session '73

In 1973 Bob Marley and the Wailers found themselves stranded on the West Coast of the United States after being asked to leave the Sly & The Family Stone tour for outperforming them every night. To make the best of the situation the band made their way to Los Angeles where they performed this recording session at the famed Capitol Studios. Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Joe Higgs lead the Wailers in a seminal performance filmed with four cameras at the Capitol Records Tower on October 24, 1973. Meticulously restored and long believed lost, the previously unseen live session documents the reggae legends at a crucial moment in their career.

Abortion: Beyond the Backstreet

The struggle to pass the 1967 Abortion Act and its continued ramifications to the present day. Featuring never before broadcast interviews with women who had backstreet abortions, those in the medical profession on both sides of the debate, and the politicians and campaigners who were at the forefront of the law on illegal abortion being changed.

Angkor et Les Mystères de L'Empire Khmer

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Jean Sénac, The Blacksmith of the Sun

By ending the life of Jean Senac on August 30, 1973 in Algiers, his assassins believed they would silence him forever. They were wrong since his voice is a little louder every day. Witnesses to these craze: the publication of the complete works of this great poet, the countless conferences and radio broadcasts devoted to him and finally the production of films such as "Jean Sénac, the blacksmith of the sun". The moving and overwhelming testimonies of those who knew him, the unpublished film archives, the generous voice of the poet on the radio, the discovery of his travels in the territories of poetry and politics make this film a precious document on the life of Jean Senac.