The Deputy is Unhappy: Films Without Censorship are Being Sent to International Competitions

Today, at the meeting of the committee of the Jogorku Kenesh on science, education, and culture, deputy Bolot Saginaev raised the issue that films sent to international film festivals are not subjected to prior censorship. He emphasized the recent festival in Busan (Korea), where the Kyrgyz film "Kurak" was presented and became an award winner.

Saginaev reported that the film contains scenes related to the themes of prostitution and LGBT. He inquired whether the film had undergone censorship checks before being sent to the competition, pointing to the presidential decree prohibiting the promotion of LGBT. "If the film contains elements that can discredit our national values, why represent the country in a negative light?" the deputy noted, emphasizing that cinema can have a significant impact on society.

In response, Deputy Minister of Culture, Information, Sports, and Youth Policy Marat Tagaev emphasized that there is no censorship in Kyrgyzstan. "Introducing such requirements could lead to the demise of the film industry. Every director has their own vision. I myself watched 'Kurak' — it is indeed a controversial work, but such films also have the right to exist, as they can provoke discussions and resonance. Creativity must remain free. We can discuss the film together," he suggested.

The deputy agreed with this opinion and proposed to invite representatives of government bodies to a screening of the film as part of the committee's activities.