Kyrgyz film to debut on Amazon Channels in the United States

A full-length film from Kyrgyzstan is set to reach U.S. audiences through Amazon Channels for the first time, according to its creators. The film, titled Burning in English, was made by the Kyrgyz studio 1.1 STUDIO and will be released on Sept. 4.

The story takes place in a Kyrgyz village. After a tragedy strikes one family, mysterious events begin to unfold. The filmmakers present the story from several viewpoints, combining psychological horror, mysticism, national folklore and social themes.

Burning had already built an international festival record before its U.S. release. It premiered globally in 2025 at the Fantasia International Film Festival in Montreal, where it won Best Asian Feature and the AQCC Jury Prize. It was also shown at Fantaspoa in Brazil and the Cottbus Festival of East European Films in Germany.

The film’s national premiere took place at the Bishkek International Film Festival, where it won the award for best screenplay. Its U.S. distribution became possible through cooperation among 1.1 STUDIO, Freeminds and American distributor IndiePix Films. The creators hope the release will expand Kyrgyz cinema’s international presence and create opportunities for other domestic projects.