Chinese Film Days to be Held in Bishkek

Bishkek will soon immerse itself in the world of Chinese cinema with the opening of Chinese Film Days on August 12 at the "Ala-Too" cinema. This event is part of the "Light and Shadow of the Silk Road" international project, offering Kyrgyz audiences a diverse selection of four films across various genres.

The film festival promises a unique cinematic journey, starting with an 8K documentary filmed in space, "Shenzhou-13." A significant portion of this film's footage was captured directly in orbit by the "Shenzhou-13" crew. Astronauts onboard not only worked on the Chinese space station during their six-month mission but also operated a specially prepared 8K camera, providing viewers with an unprecedented perspective of Earth and daily life in space, without computer-generated reconstructions.

Another highlight will be the historical action film "The Guardian" (Bodyguard), a grand narrative about the escort warrior Dao Ma, tasked with guiding a mysterious figure through the desert to ancient Chang'an. Directed by Yuen Woo-ping, a renowned master of Chinese martial arts cinema, the film features stars from multiple generations of the genre, including Wu Jing, Nicholas Tse, and Yu Shi. Filmed in locations like the deserts of Xinjiang, it became a major event in Chinese cinema upon its release in 2026, setting box office records for Chinese Wuxia films.

Admission to all screenings will be free. The opening ceremony is scheduled for 4:30 PM at the "Ala-Too" cinema. Following the "Shenzhou-13" screening, subsequent films will be shown in the coming weeks, offering insights into China's contemporary culture, society, and cinematography. The films will be presented in Chinese with Russian subtitles.

Beyond the film screenings, the "Chinese Film Days" project plans to invite filmmakers and industry representatives. This initiative is expected to expand direct creative connections between Kyrgyzstan and China, fostering cultural exchange and collaboration.