Istanbul Opens 6th Korkut Ata Turkic Film Festival
The festival, running through November 7, presents 56 films from 10 countries and 10 autonomous republics.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Cultural
Istanbul hosted the opening ceremony of the 6th Korkut Ata Turkic World Film Festival, attended by TURKSOY Secretary-General Sultan Raev. The ceremony concluded with a screening of Aytmatov, a film by Kyrgyz director Kanybek Kalmatov.
Why it matters
The festival brings together Turkic-speaking nations' cinema under one platform, highlighting shared history and spiritual heritage reflected in film. It also offers international audiences a view of film productions from across the Turkic world.
The festival presents 56 films from 10 countries and 10 autonomous republics, with Azerbaijan sending a 20-member delegation and several productions in the competition programme. Projected attendance of 150 international guests and 300 local film professionals has not yet been confirmed against final figures.
The players
TURKSOY
TURKSOY is the International Organization of Turkic Culture, a body that promotes cultural cooperation among Turkic-speaking states.
Sultan Raev
Sultan Raev is the Secretary-General of TURKSOY, who attended the festival's opening ceremony.
Kanybek Kalmatov
Kanybek Kalmatov is a Kyrgyz film director whose film Aytmatov closed the opening ceremony.
The details
The festival's main programme and international jury members were introduced at the opening ceremony, where speakers emphasized the shared history and spiritual heritage of Turkic nations reflected in cinema. The event was established in 2021 by Türkiye's Ministry of Culture and Tourism and runs until November 7.
Timeline
2021: Türkiye's Ministry of Culture and Tourism establishes the festival.
November 4, 2026: Opening ceremony held in Istanbul.
November 7, 2026: Festival scheduled to conclude.
Industry Dynamics
The festival extends TURKSOY's mandate of Turkic cultural cooperation into film, pairing a Türkiye-backed event founded in 2021 with productions from Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan and other Turkic republics. Its growth from a regional showcase into a 56-film programme reflects the broader push to build shared cinematic platforms across the Turkic world.
Festival screenings run through November 7, giving audiences in Istanbul a window to view the 56 films in the programme. Attendees should check the festival's schedule for specific screening times and venues, which the extraction does not provide.
The takeaway
Turkic cinema is gaining an organized international stage, and audiences curious about regional film can follow the festival through its November 7 close. Watching across the 10 participating countries and autonomous republics offers a direct view of shared cultural threads.
Further reading
Explore more cultural coverage on the film and arts scene across the Turkic world.
